How to pronounce reach
Say it like REECH. Reach 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 reach. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- REECH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Reach pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- REECHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of reach
American and British speakers say reach in essentially the same way: /ritʃ/ in the US and /riːtʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: REECH.
What does reach mean?
- reach a destination, either real or abstract“We hit Detroit by noon”“The water reached the doorstep”
- reach a point in time, or a certain state or level“The thermometer hit 100 degrees”“This car can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour”
- move forward or upward in order to touch; also in a metaphorical sense“Government reaches out to the people”
- the limits within which something can be effective“range of motion”“he was beyond the reach of their fire”
- an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control:“the range of a supersonic jet”“a piano has a greater range than the human voice”
- the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
Where does reach come from?
Cognate with Dutch reiken, German reichen.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with reach
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of reach.
Questions about saying reach
How do you pronounce reach?
Say REECH. The American pronunciation is /ritʃ/. In British English it is /riːtʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in reach?
Reach is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: REECH.
Do Americans and Brits say reach the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ritʃ/ and the British form is /riːtʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.