How to pronounce real
Say it like REEL. Real 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 real. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- REEL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Real pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- REELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of real
American and British speakers say real in essentially the same way: /ril/ in the US and /rɪəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: REERL.
What does real mean?
- being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory“real objects”“real people; not ghosts”
- no less than what is stated; worthy of the name“the real reason”“real war”
- not to be taken lightly“statistics demonstrate that poverty and unemployment are very real problems”“to the man sleeping regularly in doorways homelessness is real”
- used as intensifiers; real is sometimes used informally for really; rattling is informal“she was very gifted”“he played very well”
- any rational or irrational number
- the basic unit of money in Brazil; equal to 100 centavos
- an old small silver Spanish coin
Where does real come from?
From Middle English real, from Old French reel, from Late Latin reālis (“actual”), from Latin rēs (“matter, thing”), from Proto-Indo-European *reh₁ís (“wealth, goods”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with real
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of real.
Words that sound like real
Questions about saying real
How do you pronounce real?
Say REEL. The American pronunciation is /ril/. In British English it is /rɪəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in real?
Real is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: REEL.
Do Americans and Brits say real the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ril/ and the British form is /rɪəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as real?
Real sounds the same as reel in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.