How to pronounce rift
Say it like RIFT. Rift is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rift. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RIFT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rift pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RIFTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of rift
American and British speakers say rift in essentially the same way: /rɪft/ in the US and /rɪft/ in the UK.
British respelling: RIFT.
What does rift mean?
- a gap between cloud masses“the sun shone through a rift in the clouds”
- a narrow fissure in rock
- a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)“they hoped to avoid a break in relations”
Where does rift come from?
From Middle English rift, of North Germanic origin; akin to Danish rift, Norwegian Bokmål rift (“breach”), Old Norse rífa (“to tear”).
Words that rhyme with rift
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rift.
Questions about saying rift
How do you pronounce rift?
Say RIFT. The American pronunciation is /rɪft/. In British English it is /rɪft/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rift?
Rift is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: RIFT.
Do Americans and Brits say rift the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪft/ and the British form is /rɪft/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.