How to pronounce fret
Say it like FRET. Fret is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fret. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FRET
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fret pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FRETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of fret
American and British speakers say fret in essentially the same way: /frɛt/ in the US and /frɛt/ in the UK.
British respelling: FRET.
What does fret mean?
- To chafe or irritate; to worry.
- To make rough, to agitate or disturb; to cause to ripple.“the brooks fretting down their channels”
- In the form fret out: to squander, to waste.
- Agitation of the surface of a fluid by fermentation or some other cause; a rippling on the surface of water.
- Agitation of the mind marked by complaint and impatience; disturbance of temper; irritation.“He keeps his mind in a continual fret.”
- Herpes; tetter (“any of various pustular skin conditions”).
- An ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and horizontal lines, often in relief.
- A saltire interlaced with a mascle.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with fret
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of fret.
Questions about saying fret
How do you pronounce fret?
Say FRET. The American pronunciation is /frɛt/. In British English it is /frɛt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fret?
Fret is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FRET.
Do Americans and Brits say fret the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /frɛt/ and the British form is /frɛt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.