How to pronounce recoil
Say it like ree-KOYL. Recoil has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOYL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce recoil. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ree
- KOYL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Recoil pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- KOYLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of recoil
American and British speakers say recoil in essentially the same way: /riˈkɔɪl/ in the US and /riˈkɔɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: ree-KOYL.
What does recoil mean?
- To pull back, especially in disgust, horror or astonishment.“He recoiled in disgust when he saw the mess.”
- Of a firearm: to quickly push back when fired.
- A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking.“the recoil of nature, or of the blood”
- The state or condition of having recoiled.
- The energy transmitted back to the shooter from a firearm which has fired. Recoil is a function of the weight of the weapon, the weight of the projectile, and the speed at which it leaves the muzzle.
Where does recoil come from?
From Old French reculer.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with recoil
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of recoil.
Questions about saying recoil
How do you pronounce recoil?
Say ree-KOYL. The American pronunciation is /riˈkɔɪl/. In British English it is /riˈkɔɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in recoil?
Recoil has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOYL). Broken into parts: ree · KOYL.
Do Americans and Brits say recoil the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /riˈkɔɪl/ and the British form is /riˈkɔɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.