How to pronounce risk
Say it like RISK. Risk 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 risk. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RISK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Risk pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RISKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of risk
American and British speakers say risk in essentially the same way: /rɪsk/ in the US and /rɪsk/ in the UK.
British respelling: RISK.
What does risk mean?
- a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune“drinking alcohol is a health hazard”
- a venture undertaken without regard to possible loss or injury“he saw the rewards but not the risks of crime”“there was a danger he would do the wrong thing”
- the probability of becoming infected given that exposure to an infectious agent has occurred
- expose to a chance of loss or damage“We risked losing a lot of money in this venture”“Why risk your life?”
- take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome“When you buy these stocks you are gambling”
Where does risk come from?
Cognate with Spanish riesgo, Portuguese risco
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with risk
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of risk.
Questions about saying risk
How do you pronounce risk?
Say RISK. The American pronunciation is /rɪsk/. In British English it is /rɪsk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in risk?
Risk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: RISK.
Do Americans and Brits say risk the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪsk/ and the British form is /rɪsk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.