How to pronounce refrigerator
Say it like ruh-FRIJ-uh-ray-ter. Refrigerator has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FRIJ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce refrigerator. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ruh
- FRIJ
- uh
- ray
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Refrigerator 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.
- FRIJSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rayGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of refrigerator
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: rih-FRIJ-uh-ray-tuh.
What does refrigerator mean?
- white goods in which food can be stored at low temperatures
Where does refrigerator come from?
Borrowed from Medieval Latin refrīgerātor (“cooler”).
Questions about saying refrigerator
How do you pronounce refrigerator?
Say ruh-FRIJ-uh-ray-ter. The American pronunciation is /rəˈfrɪdʒəˌreɪtɚ/. In British English it is /rɪˈfrɪdʒəˌreɪtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in refrigerator?
Refrigerator has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FRIJ). Broken into parts: ruh · FRIJ · uh · ray · ter.
Is refrigerator 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 /rɪˈfrɪdʒəˌreɪtə/ (rih-FRIJ-uh-ray-tuh).