How to pronounce rigmarole
Say it like RIG-muh-rohl. Rigmarole has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RIG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rigmarole. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RIG
- muh
- rohl
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rigmarole pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RIGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rohlKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of rigmarole
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: RIG-muh-rohl.
What does rigmarole mean?
- A long and complicated formal procedure.“Have you seen all the rigmarole you have to go through at airport security these days?”
- Confused and incoherent talk; nonsense.“If you are alluding to Dostoevski’s worst novels, then, indeed, I dislike intensely The Karamazov Brothers and the ghastly Crime and Punishment rigmarole.”
- Characterized by rigmarole; prolix; tedious.
Where does rigmarole come from?
From ragman roll (“long list; catalog”).
Questions about saying rigmarole
How do you pronounce rigmarole?
Say RIG-muh-rohl. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɪɡməroʊl/. In British English it is /ˈrɪɡmərəʊl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rigmarole?
Rigmarole has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RIG). Broken into parts: RIG · muh · rohl.
Is rigmarole pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈrɪɡmərəʊl/ (RIG-muh-rohl).