How to pronounce refugee
Say it like REF-yoo-jee. Refugee has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (REF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce refugee. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- REF
- yoo
- jee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Refugee pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- REFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- jeeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of refugee
American and British speakers say refugee in essentially the same way: /ˈrɛfjudʒi/ in the US and /ˈrɛfjuːdʒi/ in the UK.
British respelling: REF-yoo-jee.
What does refugee mean?
- an exile who flees for safety
Where does refugee come from?
From French réfugié, past participle of réfugier (“to take refuge, to seek refuge”), from Old French refuge (“hiding place”) from Latin refugium (“a place of refuge, place to flee back to”), originally describing French Huguenots fleeing re
Questions about saying refugee
How do you pronounce refugee?
Say REF-yoo-jee. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɛfjudʒi/. In British English it is /ˈrɛfjuːdʒi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in refugee?
Refugee has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (REF). Broken into parts: REF · yoo · jee.
Do Americans and Brits say refugee the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrɛfjudʒi/ and the British form is /ˈrɛfjuːdʒi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.