What does dour mean?
Dour is an adjective describing someone — or occasionally something — that is stern, gloomy, and unsmiling. A dour person rarely laughs, tends to look on the bleak side of things, and often seems disapproving or joyless: a dour accountant, a dour expression, a dour refusal to celebrate. Beyond describing temperament, the word also conveys grim persistence, as in dour determination or dour resistance, where it suggests dogged, unglamorous effort rather than despair. The word derives from Latin durus, meaning "hard," the same root that gives us durable, endure, and duress — so a dour demeanor is, etymologically speaking, a hard one. Dour is chiefly literary and formal in tone, lending descriptions a certain weight, and it is frequently applied in British writing to Scottish characters. Its regional pronunciations vary widely, rhyming with either "tour" or "power" depending on dialect. For writers seeking a compact way to evoke humorless severity, few words serve better than dour.
Stern, gloomy, and unyielding in appearance, manner, or temperament; sullenly severe.
"Her dour face betrayed no reaction to the good news."
Chiefly used of people and their expressions, though extended metaphorically to weather, prose style, or institutions.
Relentlessly persistent and unyielding; grimly determined.
"They ground out victory through sheer dour determination."
Often carries a grudgingly admiring tone in this sense.
Dour comes from the same Latin root as "duress" and "endure" — so a dour face is literally one you have to endure.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dour
Dour entered English in the early 17th century, borrowed from Scots dour, which itself traces back through Middle Irish and Scottish Gaelic dúr ("stern, obstinate") to Latin durus, meaning "hard" or "harsh." This makes it a cousin of such words as durable, endure, obdurate, and duress, all built on that same Latin root for hardness. The word retains a strong association with Scottish speech and writing, where it has been used since its adoption to describe grim or stubborn severity.
Related word forms
How dour is actually used
Dour is somewhat formal or literary in register and carries a mildly negative connotation, though "dour determination" can be admiring. The pronunciation differs notably by region: British English typically uses /ˈdʊə(r)/ rhyming with "tour," while American English commonly uses /ˈdaʊɚ/ rhyming with "power" or /ˈdɔr/. The word is especially associated in British usage with Scottish stereotypes of sternness.
Easily confused with dour
"Dower" is a noun meaning a widow's life interest in her deceased husband's property, whereas "dour" is an adjective describing a stern, sullen manner.