How to pronounce reform
Say it like ruh-FORM. Reform has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FORM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce reform. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ruh
- FORM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Reform pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- FORMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of reform
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: rih-FAWM.
What does reform mean?
- a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses“justice was for sale before the reform of the law courts”
- a campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices“the reforms he proposed were too radical for the politicians”
- self-improvement in behavior or morals by abandoning some vice“the family rejoiced in the drunkard's reform”
- make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices“reform a political system”
- bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one“The Church reformed me”“reform your conduct”
- produce by cracking“reform gas”
Where does reform come from?
From Middle English reformen, from Old French reformer, from Latin reformo, reformare.
Words that rhyme with reform
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of reform.
Questions about saying reform
How do you pronounce reform?
Say ruh-FORM. The American pronunciation is /rəˈfɔrm/. In British English it is /rɪˈfɔːm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in reform?
Reform has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FORM). Broken into parts: ruh · FORM.
Is reform pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /rɪˈfɔːm/ (rih-FAWM).