How to pronounce query
Say it like KWEE-ree. Query has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KWEE).
- KWEE
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Query pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KWEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of query
American and British speakers say query in essentially the same way: /ˈkwiri/ in the US and /ˈkwɪəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: KWEER-ree.
What does query mean?
- A question, an inquiry (US), an enquiry (UK).“The teacher answered the student’s query concerning biosynthesis.”
- A question mark.
- A set of instructions passed to a database.“The database admin switched on query logging for debugging purposes.”
- To ask a question.
- To ask, inquire.
- To question or call into doubt.
Where does query come from?
An anglicisation of quere, an obsolete variant form of Latin quaere, second-person singular present active imperative of quaerō (“seek, look for; ask”); perhaps suffixed with -y (“abstract noun”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with query
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of query.
Questions about saying query
How do you pronounce query?
Say KWEE-ree. The American pronunciation is /ˈkwiri/. In British English it is /ˈkwɪəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in query?
Query has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KWEE). Broken into parts: KWEE · ree.
Do Americans and Brits say query the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkwiri/ and the British form is /ˈkwɪəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.