How to pronounce root
Say it like ROOT. Root is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- ROOT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Root pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ROOTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of root
American and British speakers say root in essentially the same way: /rut/ in the US and /ruːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: ROOT.
What does root mean?
- The part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors and supports the plant body, absorbs and stores water and nutrients, and in some plants is able to perform vegetative reproduction.“This tree's roots can go as deep as twenty metres underground.”
- A root vegetable.
- The part of a tooth extending into the bone holding the tooth in place.“Root damage is a common problem of overbrushing.”
- To grow roots; to enter the earth, as roots; to take root and begin to grow.“The cuttings are starting to root.”
- To prepare, oversee, or otherwise cause the rooting of cuttings.“We rooted some cuttings last summer.”
- To fix firmly; to establish.
- To turn up or dig with the snout.“A pig roots the earth for truffles.”
- To seek favour or advancement by low arts or grovelling servility; to fawn.
- To rummage; to search as if by digging in soil.“rooting about in a junk-filled drawer”
Where does root come from?
Cognate with Scots ruit, rute (“root”), Danish rod (“root”), Faroese and Icelandic rót (“root”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish rot (“root”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with root
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of root.
Words that sound like root
Questions about saying root
How do you pronounce root?
Say ROOT. The American pronunciation is /rut/. In British English it is /ruːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in root?
Root is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: ROOT.
Do Americans and Brits say root the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rut/ and the British form is /ruːt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as root?
Root sounds the same as route in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.