How to pronounce rest
Say it like REST. Rest is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rest. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- REST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rest pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RESTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of rest
American and British speakers say rest in essentially the same way: /rɛst/ in the US and /rɛst/ in the UK.
British respelling: REST.
What does rest mean?
- not move; be in a resting position
- take a short break from one's activities in order to relax
- give a rest to“He rested his bad leg”“Rest the dogs for a moment”
- something left after other parts have been taken away“there was no remainder”“he threw away the rest”
- freedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility)“took his repose by the swimming pool”
- a pause for relaxation“people actually accomplish more when they take time for short rests”
Where does rest come from?
From Middle English rest, reste, from Old English ræst, from Proto-West Germanic *rastu, from Proto-Germanic *rastō, of uncertain origin; possibly derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁- (“to rest”) or *Hre(h₁)s- (“to flow, rush”).
Words that rhyme with rest
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rest.
Words that sound like rest
Questions about saying rest
How do you pronounce rest?
Say REST. The American pronunciation is /rɛst/. In British English it is /rɛst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rest?
Rest is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: REST.
Do Americans and Brits say rest the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɛst/ and the British form is /rɛst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as rest?
Rest sounds the same as wrest in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.