How to pronounce retrench
Say it like ruh-TRENCH. Retrench has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRENCH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce retrench. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ruh
- TRENCH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Retrench pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TRENCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of retrench
American and British speakers say retrench in essentially the same way: /rəˈtrɛntʃ/ in the US and /rɪˈtrɛntʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-TRENCH.
What does retrench mean?
- To cut down or reduce.
- To terminate the employment of a worker to reduce the size of a workforce; to make redundant.
- To live less expensively; to economize.
- To dig or redig a trench where one already exists.
Where does retrench come from?
From Old French retranchier (“to get rid of, remove”) (modern French retrancher (“to cut out, take away; to cut off; to cut down”)), from re- (“again”) + tranchier, trenchier (“to cut”) (modern French trancher (“to slice”)); further etymolo
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with retrench
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of retrench.
Questions about saying retrench
How do you pronounce retrench?
Say ruh-TRENCH. The American pronunciation is /rəˈtrɛntʃ/. In British English it is /rɪˈtrɛntʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in retrench?
Retrench has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRENCH). Broken into parts: ruh · TRENCH.
Do Americans and Brits say retrench the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rəˈtrɛntʃ/ and the British form is /rɪˈtrɛntʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.