How to pronounce sacrifice
Say it like SAK-ruh-fyce. Sacrifice has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sacrifice. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SAK
- ruh
- fyce
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sacrifice pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- fyceGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of sacrifice
American and British speakers say sacrifice in essentially the same way: /ˈsækrəˌfaɪs/ in the US and /ˈsækrɪˌfaɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: SAK-rih-fyce.
What does sacrifice mean?
- endure the loss of“He gave his life for his children”“I gave two sons to the war”
- kill or destroy“The animals were sacrificed after the experiment”“The general had to sacrifice several soldiers to save the regiment”
- sell at a loss
- the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
- personnel that are sacrificed (e.g., surrendered or lost in order to gain an objective)
- a loss entailed by giving up or selling something at less than its value“he had to sell his car at a considerable sacrifice”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying sacrifice
How do you pronounce sacrifice?
Say SAK-ruh-fyce. The American pronunciation is /ˈsækrəˌfaɪs/. In British English it is /ˈsækrɪˌfaɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sacrifice?
Sacrifice has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAK). Broken into parts: SAK · ruh · fyce.
Do Americans and Brits say sacrifice the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsækrəˌfaɪs/ and the British form is /ˈsækrɪˌfaɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.