How to pronounce retort
Say it like rih-TORT. Retort has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TORT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce retort. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- TORT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Retort 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.
- TORTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of retort
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: rih-TAWT.
What does retort mean?
- A sharp or witty reply, or one which turns an argument against its originator; a comeback.“He countered her insult with a clever retort.”
- A flask with a rounded base and a long neck that is bent down and tapered, used to heat a liquid for distillation.
- An airtight vessel in which material is subjected to high temperatures in the chemical industry or as part of an industrial manufacturing process, especially during the smelting and forging of metal.
- A pressure cooker.
- To say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation.
- To make a remark which reverses an argument upon its originator; to return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility.“to retort the charge of vanity”
- To bend or curve back.“a retorted line”
Where does retort come from?
From Middle English retorte, from Latin retortus, from retorquēre (“to be forced to twist back”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with retort
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of retort.
Questions about saying retort
How do you pronounce retort?
Say rih-TORT. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈtɔrt/. In British English it is /rɪˈtɔːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in retort?
Retort has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TORT). Broken into parts: rih · TORT.
Is retort 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 /rɪˈtɔːt/ (rih-TAWT).