How to pronounce shrift
Say it like SHRIFT. Shrift 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 shrift. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHRIFT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shrift pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHRIFTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of shrift
American and British speakers say shrift in essentially the same way: /ʃrɪft/ in the US and /ʃrɪft/ in the UK.
British respelling: SHRIFT.
What does shrift mean?
- The act of going to or hearing a religious confession.
- Confession to a priest.
Where does shrift come from?
From Middle English shrift (“confession to a priest; act or instance of this; sacrament of penance; penance assigned by a priest; penitence, repentance; punishment for sin”) [and other forms], from Old English sċrift (“penance, shrift; some
Words that rhyme with shrift
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of shrift.
Questions about saying shrift
How do you pronounce shrift?
Say SHRIFT. The American pronunciation is /ʃrɪft/. In British English it is /ʃrɪft/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shrift?
Shrift is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SHRIFT.
Do Americans and Brits say shrift the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ʃrɪft/ and the British form is /ʃrɪft/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.