Pronunciation Guide • English (from French)
How to Pronounce debris
Difficulty: medium
IPA Transcription
/dəˈbriː/
Why is it so hard to pronounce?
duh-BREE. The "s" at the end is completely silent — it's a French loanword and French final consonants are typically silent. One of many English words with a silent final "s".
💡 Pro Tip for debris
duh-BREE. Like "debris" without the final S sound. Rhymes with "free".
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Hear 'debris' Audio Now →Word Origins
The term debris originates from French "débriser" (to break). Understanding its etymology helps explain why it breaks standard pronunciation rules.