What is delight? Pronunciation and usage in English

delight means . Learn how to pronounce and use delight through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of delight

delightverb

/dɪˈlʌɪt/
Definition & pronunciation of delight

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "delight" in English. Here's a breakdown and tips:

The most common pronunciation is:

  • /dɪˈlaɪt/ (dee-lite)

Let's break it down syllable by syllable:

  1. "di": Say it like the "di" in "did" – a short, quick "dee" sound.
  2. "light": This is the trickiest part! It's pronounced like “lite,” but with a slightly different quality.
    • It's not like "light" as in a flashlight.
    • It's a very short, quick, and slightly airy “ee” sound, almost like you’re starting to say "light" but stopping before the full vowel sound. Think of a very gentle "ee" – almost like the "i" in "bit." Some people describe it as a schwa sound (the lazy vowel sound).

Putting it together:

dee-lite

Tips for getting it right:

  • Listen to examples: The best way to learn is by hearing it. Here are some options:

    • Google Search: Search on Google for "how to pronounce delight" – you'll find audio examples.
    • Forvo: https://www.forvo.com/word/delight/ - This website has pronunciations from native speakers.
    • YouTube: Search YouTube for "pronounce delight."

  • Focus on the "light" part: Many people stumble on this syllable. Practice saying just "lite" repeatedly.

  • Don’t over-emphasize the "i": It’s a short vowel sound.

  • Record yourself: Record yourself saying the word and compare it to a native speaker's pronunciation.

Do you want me to:

  • Generate some example sentences to help you practice?
  • Focus on a specific aspect of the pronunciation (like the "light" sound)?

Usage and examples with the word delight in English

Let's break down how to use the word "delight" in English. It's a wonderful word with a specific nuance! Here's a breakdown of its usage, with examples:

1. Core Meaning: Great Pleasure or Joy

At its most basic, "delight" means a feeling of great pleasure, joy, and happiness. It's a stronger feeling than simply "like" or "enjoy."

  • Example: "I was absolutely delighted to hear about your engagement!" (Expressing genuine happiness for someone)
  • Example: "The children were delighted with their new toys." (They were very happy with them)

2. As a Verb (To Cause Delight)

"Delight" can also be used as a verb, meaning to give someone pleasure or happiness.

  • Example: "The beautiful scenery delighted the hikers." (The scenery gave them pleasure)
  • Example: "She delighted her guests with a delicious homemade cake." (She made them happy with the cake)

3. Describing Something That Causes Delight

You can use "delight" to describe things that evoke delight – things that are pleasing, charming, or wonderful.

  • Example: "The sunset was a true delight." (The sunset was beautiful and caused a feeling of joy)
  • Example: “The little girl’s giggle was a constant delight." (The giggle was pleasing and joyful)
  • Example: “He created a delightful atmosphere in the room with music and candles.” (The atmosphere was pleasing and charming)

4. Formal/Literary Usage (Often with "ful")

Sometimes, "delightful" is used as an adjective (describing something). It’s a more formal and often literary choice. It's increasingly common in everyday speech, though.

  • Example: "It was a delightful conversation." (A pleasant and enjoyable conversation)
  • Example: "She had a delightful personality." (Kind, charming, and agreeable)

Synonyms for "Delight" (to help you expand your vocabulary)

  • Joy
  • Pleasure
  • Happiness
  • Gratification
  • Amusement
  • Ravishment (more poetic)
  • Bliss

Tips for Using “Delight” Effectively:

  • It's often used for genuine, heartfelt feelings. It’s not something you’d casually say about something mildly pleasant.
  • Consider the context. Is it someone’s reaction to something, or are you describing something itself?

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you hoping to use "delight" in? (e.g., Are you writing a story, practicing for a conversation, trying to understand a passage of text?)
  • Can you give me a sentence you're struggling with where you want to use "delight"?

Synonyms for the word delight

Practice with vocabulary delight

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The board expressed their profound ________ at the company's record-breaking quarterly profits.
  2. The clear, concise presentation of the market analysis is sure to ________ the investors.
  3. Despite the challenging deadlines, the team maintained a high level of ________ throughout the project.
  4. The new software interface was designed to enhance user ________ and ease of navigation.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. The news of the research grant brought great ________ to the scientific community. A) excitement B) joy C) apathy D) delight E) indifference F) elation

  2. We hope our comprehensive report will ________ the stakeholders and provide valuable insights. A) impress B) bore C) enlighten D) delight E) confuse F) satisfy

  3. Her innovative approach to problem-solving was a constant source of ________ for the project manager. A) frustration B) inspiration C) curiosity D) delight E) annoyance F) admiration

  4. The team displayed remarkable ________ in overcoming the unexpected technical challenges. A) resilience B) hesitation C) perseverance D) indifference E) determination F) enthusiasm

  5. The committee emphasized the ________ of clear communication throughout the organizational restructuring process. A) irrelevance B) complexity C) significance D) triviality E) importance F) clarity

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The clients were extremely pleased with the outstanding results of the campaign. (Rewrite using a form of "delight")

  2. It gives me immense pleasure to see our junior colleagues develop their skills so rapidly. (Rewrite using a form of "delight")

  3. The board's decision to invest in sustainable technologies was met with widespread approval from environmental groups. (Rewrite, replacing "approval" with a suitable, single word that is NOT "delight" or a form of it)

Answer:

Exercise 1:

  1. delight
  2. delight
  3. motivation
  4. satisfaction

Exercise 2:

  1. A) excitement, B) joy, D) delight, F) elation
  2. A) impress, C) enlighten, D) delight, F) satisfy
  3. B) inspiration, D) delight, F) admiration
  4. A) resilience, C) perseverance, E) determination
  5. C) significance, E) importance, F) clarity

Exercise 3:

  1. The outstanding results of the campaign brought great delight to the clients. OR The clients were delighted by the outstanding results of the campaign.
  2. It brings me great delight to witness our junior colleagues developing their skills so rapidly. OR I am delighted to see our junior colleagues develop their skills so rapidly.
  3. The board's decision to invest in sustainable technologies was met with widespread acclaim from environmental groups.

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