How to pronounce infrared
Say it like in-fruh-RED. Infrared has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce infrared. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- fruh
- RED
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Infrared pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- fruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- REDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of infrared
American and British speakers say infrared in essentially the same way: /ˌɪnfrəˈrɛd/ in the US and /ˌɪnfrəˈrɛd/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-fruh-RED.
What does infrared mean?
- having or employing wavelengths longer than light but shorter than radio waves; lying outside the visible spectrum at its red end“infrared radiation”“infrared photography”
- the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum; electromagnetic wave frequencies below the visible range“they could sense radiation in the infrared”
- electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than radio waves
Where does infrared come from?
From infra- + red.
Words that rhyme with infrared
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of infrared.
Questions about saying infrared
How do you pronounce infrared?
Say in-fruh-RED. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnfrəˈrɛd/. In British English it is /ˌɪnfrəˈrɛd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in infrared?
Infrared has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RED). Broken into parts: in · fruh · RED.
Do Americans and Brits say infrared the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪnfrəˈrɛd/ and the British form is /ˌɪnfrəˈrɛd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.