How to pronounce rhetoric
Say it like RET-uh-rik. Rhetoric has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RET).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rhetoric. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈrɛtərɪk/RET-uh-rik
UK British/ˈrɛtərɪk/RET-uh-rik
- RET
- uh
- rik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rhetoric pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of rhetoric
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: RET-uh-rik.
What does rhetoric mean?
noun
- using language effectively to please or persuade
- high-flown style; excessive use of verbal ornamentation“the grandiosity of his prose”“an excessive ornateness of language”
- loud and confused and empty talk“mere rhetoric”
Questions about saying rhetoric
How do you pronounce rhetoric?
Say RET-uh-rik. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɛtərɪk/. In British English it is /ˈrɛtərɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rhetoric?
Rhetoric has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RET). Broken into parts: RET · uh · rik.
Is rhetoric pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈrɛtərɪk/ (RET-uh-rik).