How to pronounce route
Say it like ROOT. Route 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 route. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROOT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Britons always say 'root'. Americans use both 'root' and 'rowt'.
Route 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 route
American and British speakers say route in essentially the same way: /rut/ in the US and /ruːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: ROOT.
Other ways to say route
Route also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- ROWT /raʊt/
What does route mean?
- an established line of travel or access
- an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
- send documents or materials to appropriate destinations
- send via a specific route
- divert in a specified direction“divert the low voltage to the engine cylinders”
Where does route come from?
From Middle English route, from Old French route, from Latin rupta [via] (literally “a path made by force”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with route
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of route.
Words that sound like route
Questions about saying route
How do you pronounce route?
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 route?
Route is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: ROOT.
Do Americans and Brits say route 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 route?
Route sounds the same as root in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.