How to pronounce refinery
Say it like rih-FY-nuh-ree. Refinery has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FY).
- rih
- FY
- nuh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Refinery 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.
- FYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of refinery
American and British speakers say refinery in essentially the same way: /rɪˈfaɪnəri/ in the US and /rɪˈfaɪnəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-FY-nuh-ree.
What does refinery mean?
- A building, or a mass of machinery, used to produce refined products such as sugar, oil, or metals.
Where does refinery come from?
From refine + -ry.
Words that rhyme with refinery
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of refinery.
Questions about saying refinery
How do you pronounce refinery?
Say rih-FY-nuh-ree. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈfaɪnəri/. In British English it is /rɪˈfaɪnəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in refinery?
Refinery has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FY). Broken into parts: rih · FY · nuh · ree.
Do Americans and Brits say refinery the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈfaɪnəri/ and the British form is /rɪˈfaɪnəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.