How to pronounce relieve
Say it like rih-LEEV. Relieve has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEEV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce relieve. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- LEEV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Relieve 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.
- LEEVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of relieve
American and British speakers say relieve in essentially the same way: /rɪˈliv/ in the US and /rɪˈliːv/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-LEEV.
What does relieve mean?
- provide physical relief, as from pain“This pill will relieve your headaches”
- free someone temporarily from his or her obligations
- grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to“She exempted me from the exam”
Where does relieve come from?
From Late Middle English releven, from Old French relever, specifically from the conjugated forms such as (jeo) relieve (“I lift up”), and its source, Latin relevo (“to lift up, lighten, relieve, alleviate”), combined form of re- (“back”) + levo (“to lift”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with relieve
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of relieve.
Questions about saying relieve
How do you pronounce relieve?
Say rih-LEEV. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈliv/. In British English it is /rɪˈliːv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in relieve?
Relieve has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEEV). Broken into parts: rih · LEEV.
Do Americans and Brits say relieve the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈliv/ and the British form is /rɪˈliːv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.