How to pronounce rifle
Say it like RY-ful. Rifle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rifle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RY
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rifle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of rifle
American and British speakers say rifle in essentially the same way: /ˈraɪfəl/ in the US and /ˈraɪfəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: RY-ful.
What does rifle mean?
- a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore“he lifted the rifle to his shoulder and fired”
- steal goods; take as spoils“During the earthquake people looted the stores that were deserted by their owners”
- go through in search of something; search through someone's belongings in an unauthorized way“Who rifled through my desk drawers?”
Where does rifle come from?
Originally short for “rifled gun”, referring to the spiral grooves inside the barrel.
Words that rhyme with rifle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rifle.
Questions about saying rifle
How do you pronounce rifle?
Say RY-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈraɪfəl/. In British English it is /ˈraɪfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rifle?
Rifle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RY). Broken into parts: RY · ful.
Do Americans and Brits say rifle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈraɪfəl/ and the British form is /ˈraɪfəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.