How to pronounce raise
Say it like RAYZ. Raise 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 raise. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RAYZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Raise pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RAYZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of raise
American and British speakers say raise in essentially the same way: /reɪz/ in the US and /reɪz/ in the UK.
British respelling: RAYZ.
What does raise mean?
- raise the level or amount of something“raise my salary”“raise the price of bread”
- raise from a lower to a higher position“Raise your hands”“Lift a load”
- cause to be heard or known; express or utter“raise a shout”“raise a protest”
- the amount a salary is increased“he got a 3% raise”“he got a wage hike”
- an upward slope or grade (as in a road)“the car couldn't make it up the rise”
- increasing the size of a bet (as in poker)“I'll see your raise and double it”
Where does raise come from?
Cognate with Old English rāsian (“to explore, examine, research”), Old English rīsan (“to seize, carry off”), Old English rǣran (“to raise”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with raise
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of raise.
Words that sound like raise
Questions about saying raise
How do you pronounce raise?
Say RAYZ. The American pronunciation is /reɪz/. In British English it is /reɪz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in raise?
Raise is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: RAYZ.
Do Americans and Brits say raise the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /reɪz/ and the British form is /reɪz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as raise?
Raise sounds the same as raze in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.