How to pronounce retrieve
Say it like rih-TREEV. Retrieve has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TREEV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce retrieve. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- TREEV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Retrieve 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.
- TREEVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of retrieve
American and British speakers say retrieve in essentially the same way: /rɪˈtriv/ in the US and /rɪˈtriːv/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-TREEV.
What does retrieve mean?
- get or find back; recover the use of“She regained control of herself”“She found her voice and replied quickly”
- go for and bring back“retrieve the car from the parking garage”
- run after, pick up, and bring to the master“train the dog to retrieve”
Where does retrieve come from?
Recorded in Middle English c.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with retrieve
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of retrieve.
Questions about saying retrieve
How do you pronounce retrieve?
Say rih-TREEV. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈtriv/. In British English it is /rɪˈtriːv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in retrieve?
Retrieve has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TREEV). Broken into parts: rih · TREEV.
Do Americans and Brits say retrieve the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈtriv/ and the British form is /rɪˈtriːv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.