SPEAK with understanding
→ Read or Listen to the passage. Locate all of the meanings of the homonym or heteronym. Studying for a test: limit and time your responses to 30-60 seconds.

HETERONYM: DESERT

“We drove for hours through the hot desert, where sand stretched as far as the eye could see. The sun blazed overhead, and we stopped only once for water. Later that night, after dinner, my friend felt upset and accused me of trying to desert him during a tough conversation. I explained that I wasn’t walking away but just needed time to think. The next day at school, we learned about soldiers who chose to desert their posts during battle, risking punishment for leaving without permission.”

How many meanings did you find?

List of the different ways that this word can be used.

SPEAK w/ P I E

  • Pronunciation

    Desert (/ˈdɛz.ɚt/) → sounds like peasant (dry land).

    Desert (/dɪˈzɜrt/) → sounds like assert (abandon).

  • Intonation Practice
    “They crossed the hot desert.”
    “He didn’t want to desert his friends.”

  • Expression Tip
    For the land, stress the first syllable.
    For abandoning, stress the second syllable.

SEVERAL MEANINGS

  1. Desert (/ˈdɛz.ɚt/) – dry, sandy land.

  2. Desert (/dɪˈzɜrt/) – to abandon someone or something.

IDIOMS/EXPRESSION

  • Just deserts – what someone deserves (not pronounced like the sweet).

  • Desert someone – leave them when needed most.