How to pronounce retrieval
Say it like rih-TREE-vul. Retrieval has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TREE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce retrieval. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- TREE
- vul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Retrieval 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.
- TREESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- vulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of retrieval
American and British speakers say retrieval in essentially the same way: /rɪˈtrivəl/ in the US and /rɪˈtriːvəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-TREE-vul.
What does retrieval mean?
- The act of retrieving or something retrieved.“Search dogs assisted in the retrieval of survivors.”
- The operation of accessing data, either from memory or from a storage device.“data retrieval”
- The cognitive process of bringing stored information into consciousness.“information retrieval”
Words that rhyme with retrieval
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of retrieval.
Questions about saying retrieval
How do you pronounce retrieval?
Say rih-TREE-vul. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈtrivəl/. In British English it is /rɪˈtriːvəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in retrieval?
Retrieval has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TREE). Broken into parts: rih · TREE · vul.
Do Americans and Brits say retrieval the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈtrivəl/ and the British form is /rɪˈtriːvəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.