How to pronounce red
Say it like RED. Red is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- RED
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Red pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- REDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of red
American and British speakers say red in essentially the same way: /rɛd/ in the US and /rɛd/ in the UK.
British respelling: RED.
What does red mean?
- The colour of the setting sun, blood, and strawberries; the colour which is evoked by the longest visible wavelengths (between about 625–740 nm), and a primary additive colour.“Red can be seen as hot or angry.”
- A revolutionary socialist or (most commonly) a Communist; (usually capitalized) a Bolshevik, a supporter of the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War.
- One of the 15 red balls used in snooker, distinguished from the colours.
- Of a red hue.“The girl wore a red skirt.”
- Having an orange-brown or orange-blond colour; ginger.“Her hair had red highlights.”
- Having a redder hue than usual due to embarrassment, anger, sunburn, etc.; flushed.
- Alternative spelling of redd.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with red
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of red.
Words that sound like red
- read
- reade
- redd
Questions about saying red
How do you pronounce red?
Say RED. The American pronunciation is /rɛd/. In British English it is /rɛd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in red?
Red is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: RED.
Do Americans and Brits say red the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɛd/ and the British form is /rɛd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as red?
Red sounds the same as read, reade, redd in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.