How to pronounce ritual
Say it like RICH-oo-ul. Ritual has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RICH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ritual. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RICH
- oo
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ritual pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RICHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of ritual
American and British speakers say ritual in essentially the same way: /ˈrɪtʃuəl/ in the US and /ˈrɪtʃuəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: RICH-oo-ul.
What does ritual mean?
- any customary observance or practice
- the prescribed procedure for conducting religious ceremonies
- stereotyped behavior
- of or relating to or characteristic of religious rituals“ritual killing”
- of or relating to or employed in social rites or rituals“a ritual dance of Haiti”“sedate little colonial tribe with its ritual tea parties”
Where does ritual come from?
From Latin rītuālis (adjective), from rītus (“rite”) + -ālis.
Words that rhyme with ritual
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ritual.
Questions about saying ritual
How do you pronounce ritual?
Say RICH-oo-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɪtʃuəl/. In British English it is /ˈrɪtʃuəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ritual?
Ritual has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RICH). Broken into parts: RICH · oo · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say ritual the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrɪtʃuəl/ and the British form is /ˈrɪtʃuəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.