How to pronounce relief
Say it like rih-LEEF. Relief has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEEF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce relief. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- LEEF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Relief 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.
- LEEFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of relief
American and British speakers say relief in essentially the same way: /rɪˈlif/ in the US and /rɪˈliːf/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-LEEF.
What does relief mean?
- the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced“as he heard the news he was suddenly flooded with relief”
- the condition of being comfortable or relieved (especially after being relieved of distress)“he enjoyed his relief from responsibility”“getting it off his conscience gave him some ease”
- (law) redress awarded by a court“was the relief supposed to be protection from future harm or compensation for past injury?”
Where does relief come from?
From Old French relief (“assistance”), from Old French relever (“to relieve”), from Latin relevare (“to raise up, make light”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with relief
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of relief.
Questions about saying relief
How do you pronounce relief?
Say rih-LEEF. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈlif/. In British English it is /rɪˈliːf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in relief?
Relief has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEEF). Broken into parts: rih · LEEF.
Do Americans and Brits say relief the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈlif/ and the British form is /rɪˈliːf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.