How to pronounce require
Say it like ree-KWY-er. Require has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KWY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce require. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ree
- KWY
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Require pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- reeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- KWYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of require
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: rih-KWY-uh.
What does require mean?
- require as useful, just, or proper“It takes nerve to do what she did”“success usually requires hard work”
- consider obligatory; request and expect“We require our secretary to be on time”“Aren't we asking too much of these children?”
- make someone do something
Where does require come from?
From Old French requerre (whence Modern French requérir), from Latin requīrō (“to require, seek, ask for”, literally “to seek back”), from re- (“back; again”) + quaerō (“to seek”, whence query).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with require
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of require.
Questions about saying require
How do you pronounce require?
Say ree-KWY-er. The American pronunciation is /ˌriˈkwaɪɚ/. In British English it is /rɪˈkwaɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in require?
Require has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KWY). Broken into parts: ree · KWY · er.
Is require pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /rɪˈkwaɪə/ (rih-KWY-uh).