How to pronounce roost
Say it like ROOST. Roost 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 roost. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROOST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Roost pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ROOSTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of roost
American and British speakers say roost in essentially the same way: /rust/ in the US and /ruːst/ in the UK.
British respelling: ROOST.
What does roost mean?
- To settle on a perch in order to sleep or rest.
- To spend the night.
- To kick (a ball) a long distance.
- The place where a bird sleeps (usually its nest or a branch).
- A group of birds roosting together.
- A bedroom.
- Alternative form of roust (“a strong tide or current”).
Where does roost come from?
Cognate with Dutch roest (“roost”), German Low German Rust (“roost”), German Rost (“grate; gridiron; grill”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with roost
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of roost.
Questions about saying roost
How do you pronounce roost?
Say ROOST. The American pronunciation is /rust/. In British English it is /ruːst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in roost?
Roost is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: ROOST.
Do Americans and Brits say roost the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rust/ and the British form is /ruːst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.