How to pronounce ragtag
Say it like RAG-tag. Ragtag has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ragtag. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RAG
- tag
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ragtag pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RAGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- tagGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of ragtag
American and British speakers say ragtag in essentially the same way: /ˈræɡˌtæɡ/ in the US and /ˈræɡˌtæɡ/ in the UK.
British respelling: RAG-tag.
What does ragtag mean?
- Unkempt, shabby, or in a state of disrepair.“He liked to wear an old ragtag coat that was so threadbare that he'd get sunburned through it.”
- Very diverse; having irregular and dissimilar components.“The guerrillas were a ragtag band of local thugs, former soldiers, displaced farmers, and political idealists.”
- A shabby, unkempt person.
Where does ragtag come from?
From earlier tag-rag and tag and rag, from rag + tag.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying ragtag
How do you pronounce ragtag?
Say RAG-tag. The American pronunciation is /ˈræɡˌtæɡ/. In British English it is /ˈræɡˌtæɡ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ragtag?
Ragtag has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAG). Broken into parts: RAG · tag.
Do Americans and Brits say ragtag the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈræɡˌtæɡ/ and the British form is /ˈræɡˌtæɡ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.