How to pronounce rue
Say it like ROO. Rue 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 rue. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROO
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rue pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ROOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of rue
American and British speakers say rue in essentially the same way: /ru/ in the US and /ruː/ in the UK.
British respelling: ROO.
What does rue mean?
- European strong-scented perennial herb with grey-green bitter-tasting leaves; an irritant similar to poison ivy
- leaves sometimes used for flavoring fruit or claret cup but should be used with great caution: can cause irritation like poison ivy
- sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment“he drank to drown his sorrows”“he wrote a note expressing his regret”
- feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
Where does rue come from?
From Middle English rewen, ruwen, ruen, reowen, from Old English hrēowan (“to rue; make sorry; grieve”), perhaps influenced by Old Norse hryggja (“to distress, grieve”), from Proto-Germanic *hrewwaną (“to sadden; repent”).
Words that rhyme with rue
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rue.
Words that sound like rue
Questions about saying rue
How do you pronounce rue?
Say ROO. The American pronunciation is /ru/. In British English it is /ruː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rue?
Rue is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: ROO.
Do Americans and Brits say rue the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ru/ and the British form is /ruː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as rue?
Rue sounds the same as roux in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.