How to pronounce rescue
Say it like RES-kyoo. Rescue has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rescue. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RES
- kyoo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rescue pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- kyooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of rescue
American and British speakers say rescue in essentially the same way: /ˈrɛskju/ in the US and /ˈrɛskjuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: RES-kyoo.
What does rescue mean?
- recovery or preservation from loss or danger“work is the deliverance of mankind”“a surgeon's job is the saving of lives”
- free from harm or evil
- take forcibly from legal custody“rescue prisoners”
Where does rescue come from?
From Middle English rescouen, from Old French rescoure, rescurre, rescorre; from Latin prefix re- (“re-”) + excutere (“to shake or drive out”), from ex (“out”) + quatiō (“to shake”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with rescue
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rescue.
Questions about saying rescue
How do you pronounce rescue?
Say RES-kyoo. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɛskju/. In British English it is /ˈrɛskjuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rescue?
Rescue has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RES). Broken into parts: RES · kyoo.
Do Americans and Brits say rescue the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrɛskju/ and the British form is /ˈrɛskjuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.