How to pronounce rapier
Say it like RAY-pee-er. Rapier has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rapier. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RAY
- pee
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rapier pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- peeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of rapier
- American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: RAY-peer.
What does rapier mean?
- A slender, straight, sharply pointed sword (double-edged, single-edged or edgeless), designed predominantly for thrusting; used during the Renaissance period of Europe for civilian duelling
- Extremely sharp.
- Cutting; employing keen wit.“John is very quick on his feet during interviews by using his rapier responses.”
- comparative form of rapey: more rapey How to pronounce rapey
Where does rapier come from?
Borrowed from Middle French rapiere, from Middle French (espee) rapiere, from Old French rapiere, raspiere, from Spanish raspadera (“poker; raker; scraper”), from Spanish raspar (“to scrape”), of Germanic origin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying rapier
How do you pronounce rapier?
Say RAY-pee-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈreɪpiɚ/. In British English it is /ˈreɪˌpɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rapier?
Rapier has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAY). Broken into parts: RAY · pee · er.
Is rapier pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2. The British form is /ˈreɪˌpɪə/ (RAY-peer).