How to pronounce reek
Say it like REEK. Reek 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 reek. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- REEK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Reek pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- REEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of reek
American and British speakers say reek in essentially the same way: /rik/ in the US and /riːk/ in the UK.
British respelling: REEK.
What does reek mean?
- A strong unpleasant smell.
- Vapour; steam; smoke; fume.
- To have or give off a strong, unpleasant smell.“You reek of perfume.”
- To be evidently associated with something unpleasant.“The boss appointing his nephew as a director reeks of nepotism.”
- To cause (something) to smell.
- A pile, a heap (as of snow, hay, etc).
Where does reek come from?
Cognate with West Frisian reek, riik, Dutch rook (“smoke”), Low German Röök, German Rauch (“smoke”), Danish røg (“smoke”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk røyk (“smoke”), Swedish rök (“smoke”), Faroese roykur (“smoke”), Icelandic rey
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with reek
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of reek.
Words that sound like reek
Questions about saying reek
How do you pronounce reek?
Say REEK. The American pronunciation is /rik/. In British English it is /riːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in reek?
Reek is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: REEK.
Do Americans and Brits say reek the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rik/ and the British form is /riːk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as reek?
Reek sounds the same as wreak in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.