How to pronounce retire
Say it like rih-TIRE. Retire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TIRE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce retire. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- TIRE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Retire pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- rihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- TIRESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of retire
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: rih-TY.
What does retire mean?
- go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position“He retired at age 68”
- withdraw from active participation“He retired from chess”
- pull back or move away or backward“The enemy withdrew”“The limo pulled away from the curb”
Where does retire come from?
From Middle French retirer (“draw back”), from Old French retirer, built from re- (“back”) + tirer (“draw, pull”), the latter from Vulgar Latin *tīrāre, of highly uncertain origin.
Words that rhyme with retire
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of retire.
Questions about saying retire
How do you pronounce retire?
Say rih-TIRE. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈtaɪr/. In British English it is /rɪˈtaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in retire?
Retire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TIRE). Broken into parts: rih · TIRE.
Is retire 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 /rɪˈtaɪ/ (rih-TY).