To pronounce "deft", say DEFT — one syllable, IPA /dɛft/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.
deft
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Accent
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Speed
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1
Syllable
4
Letters
/dɛft/
IPA
"deft" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with bereft and cleft, if that helps it stick.
adjective
“He assembled it in one fluid, deft motion.”
Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.
Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.
"Deft" has one syllable.
The IPA transcription of "deft" is /dɛft/.
Deft: Quick and neat in action; skillful.
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