How to pronounce referee
Say it like ref-uh-REE. Referee has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (REE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce referee. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ref
- uh
- REE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Referee pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- refGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- REESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of referee
American and British speakers say referee in essentially the same way: /ˌrɛfəˈri/ in the US and /ˌrɛfəˈriː/ in the UK.
British respelling: ref-uh-REE.
What does referee mean?
- (sports) the chief official (as in boxing or American football) who is expected to ensure fair play
- someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication
- an attorney appointed by a court to investigate and report on a case
- be a referee or umpire in a sports competition
- evaluate professionally a colleague's work
Words that rhyme with referee
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of referee.
Questions about saying referee
How do you pronounce referee?
Say ref-uh-REE. The American pronunciation is /ˌrɛfəˈri/. In British English it is /ˌrɛfəˈriː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in referee?
Referee has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (REE). Broken into parts: ref · uh · REE.
Do Americans and Brits say referee the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌrɛfəˈri/ and the British form is /ˌrɛfəˈriː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.