How to pronounce rectify
Say it like REK-tuh-fy. Rectify has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (REK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rectify. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- REK
- tuh
- fy
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rectify pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- REKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- fyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of rectify
American and British speakers say rectify in essentially the same way: /ˈrɛktəˌfaɪ/ in the US and /ˈrɛktəˌfaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: REK-tuh-fy.
What does rectify mean?
- To restore (someone or something) to its proper condition; to straighten out, to set right.
- To remedy or fix (an undesirable state of affairs, situation etc.).“to rectify the crisis”
- To purify or refine (a substance) by distillation.
Where does rectify come from?
From Middle English rectifien, from Anglo-Norman rectifiier, rectefier (“to make straight”), from Medieval Latin rēctificō (“to make right”), from Latin rēctus (“straight”).
Questions about saying rectify
How do you pronounce rectify?
Say REK-tuh-fy. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɛktəˌfaɪ/. In British English it is /ˈrɛktəˌfaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rectify?
Rectify has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (REK). Broken into parts: REK · tuh · fy.
Do Americans and Brits say rectify the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrɛktəˌfaɪ/ and the British form is /ˈrɛktəˌfaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.