How to pronounce reptile
Say it like REP-tyle. Reptile has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (REP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce reptile. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- REP
- tyle
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Reptile pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- REPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tyleKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of reptile
American and British speakers say reptile in essentially the same way: /ˈrɛptaɪl/ in the US and /ˈrɛptaɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: REP-tyle.
What does reptile mean?
- A (typically scaly and egg-laying) cold-blooded vertebrate tetrapod animal, of the class Reptilia (excluding birds), such as a lizard, turtle, snake, crocodile, alligator, etc.
- Any member of the class Reptilia, including birds.
- Any creeping or crawling animal, one that moves along close to the ground on its belly or on short legs, such as a lizard, snake, salamander, frog, toad, or scorpion.
- Creeping; moving on the belly, or by means of small and short legs.
- Grovelling; low; vulgar.“a reptile race or crew reptile vices”
Where does reptile come from?
From Middle English reptil, from Old French reptile, from Late Latin rēptile, neuter of reptilis (“creeping”), from Latin rēpō (“to creep”), from Proto-Indo-European *rep- (“to creep, slink”) (Pokorny; Watkins, 1969).
Questions about saying reptile
How do you pronounce reptile?
Say REP-tyle. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɛptaɪl/. In British English it is /ˈrɛptaɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in reptile?
Reptile has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (REP). Broken into parts: REP · tyle.
Do Americans and Brits say reptile the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrɛptaɪl/ and the British form is /ˈrɛptaɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.