How to Pronounce "develop"
The correct pronunciation of "develop" is dih-VEL-up /dɪˈvel.əp/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "DEV-uh-lup" habit for good.
develop
/dɪˈvel.əp/To grow, build, or create something over time.
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Record yourself saying “develop” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "DEV-uh-lup" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying "DEV-uh-lup" with stress on the first syllable, or "dev-LOP" with a heavy final syllable. | dih-VEL-up /dɪˈvel.əp/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | Second syllable (VEL). |
How Do You Pronounce "develop"?
"develop" is pronounced dih-VEL-up /dɪˈvel.əp/. The stress is on the second syllable (VEL). As a verb, it means to grow, build, or create something over time.
Stress sits on the MIDDLE syllable: dih-VEL-up. The last syllable is a soft "up", never "lop".
Listen for the stressed syllable and copy its rhythm — getting the stress right matters more than any single sound.
Say "develop" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
dih-VEL-up — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
Second syllable (VEL). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
Stress sits on the MIDDLE syllable: dih-VEL-up. The last syllable is a soft "up", never "lop".
Blend and repeat
Now say "develop" at normal speed: dih-VEL-up. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "develop" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
bell → tell → VEL
The stressed middle syllable rhymes with bell.
say dih, punch VEL, fade up: dih-VEL-up
Tiny first syllable, strong middle, soft ending.
NOT DEV-uh-lup — dih-VEL-up
Stress the middle, not the front; the end is up, never lop.
develop fluency — dih-VEL-up
Keep the middle stress at speed.
Why "develop" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
Hindi and most Indian languages favour first-syllable or even stress, so the unusual middle stress gets flattened.
Tip: Make the first syllable tiny ("dih"), punch the middle ("VEL"), and fade out ("up"): dih-VEL-up.
Hear “develop” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
We develop mobile apps for startups.
You need practice to develop fluency.
They plan to develop the old site into a park.
Words Related to "develop"
Now say it inside a sentence
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Frequently Asked Questions
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