How to pronounce requiem
Say it like REK-wee-um. Requiem has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (REK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce requiem. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- REK
- wee
- um
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Requiem pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- REKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- weeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- umKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of requiem
American and British speakers say requiem in essentially the same way: /ˈrɛkwiəm/ in the US and /ˈrɛkwiəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: REK-wee-um.
What does requiem mean?
- A Mass (especially Catholic) to honor and remember a dead person.
- A musical composition for such a mass.
- A piece of music composed to honor a dead person.
- A large or dangerous shark, specifically, (zoology) a member of the family Carcharhinidae.
Where does requiem come from?
From Middle English requiem, from Latin requiem, the first word of the introit for the traditional requiem mass, an alternative accusative case of Latin requiēs (“rest, repose”), from re- (“again”) + quiēs (“rest, quiet”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying requiem
How do you pronounce requiem?
Say REK-wee-um. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɛkwiəm/. In British English it is /ˈrɛkwiəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in requiem?
Requiem has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (REK). Broken into parts: REK · wee · um.
Do Americans and Brits say requiem the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrɛkwiəm/ and the British form is /ˈrɛkwiəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.