How to pronounce strife
Say it like STRYFE. Strife 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 strife. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STRYFE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Strife pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STRYFESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of strife
American and British speakers say strife in essentially the same way: /straɪf/ in the US and /straɪf/ in the UK.
British respelling: STRYFE.
What does strife mean?
- Striving; earnest endeavor; hard work.
- Exertion or contention for superiority, either by physical or intellectual means.
- Bitter conflict, sometimes violent.
Where does strife come from?
From Middle English strif, stryf, striffe, from Old French estrif, noun derived from estriver, from Frankish *strīban; compare Dutch strijven.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with strife
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of strife.
Questions about saying strife
How do you pronounce strife?
Say STRYFE. The American pronunciation is /straɪf/. In British English it is /straɪf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in strife?
Strife is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STRYFE.
Do Americans and Brits say strife the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /straɪf/ and the British form is /straɪf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.