How to pronounce friar
Say it like FRY-er. Friar has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FRY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce friar. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FRY
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Friar pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FRYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of friar
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FRY-uh.
What does friar mean?
- A member of a mendicant Christian order such as the Augustinians, Carmelites (white friars), Franciscans (gray friars) or the Dominicans (black friars).
- A white or pale patch on a printed page caused by poor inking.
- An American fish, the silverside.
Where does friar come from?
Inherited from Middle English frere, borrowed from Old French frere, from Latin frāter, from Proto-Italic *frātēr, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with friar
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of friar.
Words that sound like friar
Questions about saying friar
How do you pronounce friar?
Say FRY-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈfraɪɚ/. In British English it is /ˈfraɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in friar?
Friar has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FRY). Broken into parts: FRY · er.
Is friar pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈfraɪə/ (FRY-uh).
What words sound the same as friar?
Friar sounds the same as fryer in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.