How to pronounce rude
Say it like ROOD. Rude 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 rude. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROOD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rude pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ROODSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of rude
American and British speakers say rude in essentially the same way: /rud/ in the US and /ruːd/ in the UK.
British respelling: ROOD.
What does rude mean?
- socially incorrect in behavior“resentment flared at such an unmannered intrusion”
- (of persons) lacking in refinement or grace
- lacking civility or good manners“want nothing from you but to get away from your uncivil tongue”
Where does rude come from?
From Middle English rude, from Old French rude, ruide, from Latin rudis (“rough, raw, rude, wild, untilled”).
Words that rhyme with rude
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rude.
Words that sound like rude
Questions about saying rude
How do you pronounce rude?
Say ROOD. The American pronunciation is /rud/. In British English it is /ruːd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rude?
Rude is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: ROOD.
Do Americans and Brits say rude the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rud/ and the British form is /ruːd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as rude?
Rude sounds the same as rood in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.