How to pronounce recovery
Say it like rih-KUHV-ree. Recovery has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KUHV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce recovery. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- KUHV
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Recovery pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- rihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- KUHVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of recovery
American and British speakers say recovery in essentially the same way: /rɪˈkʌvri/ in the US and /rɪˈkʌvri/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-KUHV-ree.
What does recovery mean?
- return to an original state“the recovery of the forest after the fire was surprisingly rapid”
- gradual healing (through rest) after sickness or injury
- the act of regaining or saving something lost (or in danger of becoming lost)
Where does recovery come from?
From recover + -y, from Middle English recoveree, from Old French recovree, from recovrer (“recover”).
Words that rhyme with recovery
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of recovery.
Questions about saying recovery
How do you pronounce recovery?
Say rih-KUHV-ree. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈkʌvri/. In British English it is /rɪˈkʌvri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in recovery?
Recovery has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KUHV). Broken into parts: rih · KUHV · ree.
Do Americans and Brits say recovery the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈkʌvri/ and the British form is /rɪˈkʌvri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.