How to pronounce return
Say it like rih-TURN. Return has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TURN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce return. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- TURN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Return 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.
- TURNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of return
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: rih-TURN.
What does return mean?
- go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before“return to your native land”“the professor returned to his teaching position after serving as Dean”
- give back“render money”
- go back to a previous state“We reverted to the old rules”
- document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability“his gross income was enough that he had to file a tax return”
- a coming to or returning home“on his return from Australia we gave him a welcoming party”
- the occurrence of a change in direction back in the opposite direction
Where does return come from?
From Middle English returnen, retornen, from Anglo-Norman returner, from Old French retourner, retorner, from Medieval Latin retornare (“to turn back”), from re- + tornare (“to turn”).
Words that rhyme with return
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of return.
Questions about saying return
How do you pronounce return?
Say rih-TURN. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈtɝn/. In British English it is /rɪˈtɜːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in return?
Return has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TURN). Broken into parts: rih · TURN.
Is return 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 /rɪˈtɜːn/ (rih-TURN).