How to pronounce rugby
Say it like RUHG-bee. Rugby has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RUHG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rugby. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RUHG
- bee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rugby pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RUHGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- beeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of rugby
American and British speakers say rugby in essentially the same way: /ˈrʌɡbi/ in the US and /ˈrʌɡbi/ in the UK.
British respelling: RUHG-bee.
What does rugby mean?
- a form of football played with an oval ball
Where does rugby come from?
From the name of Rugby School in Rugby, in Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom, where the modern game was developed in the 19th century.
Questions about saying rugby
How do you pronounce rugby?
Say RUHG-bee. The American pronunciation is /ˈrʌɡbi/. In British English it is /ˈrʌɡbi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rugby?
Rugby has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RUHG). Broken into parts: RUHG · bee.
Do Americans and Brits say rugby the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrʌɡbi/ and the British form is /ˈrʌɡbi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.