How to pronounce sunrise
Say it like SUHN-ryze. Sunrise has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sunrise. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUHN
- ryze
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sunrise pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- ryzeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of sunrise
American and British speakers say sunrise in essentially the same way: /ˈsʌnˌraɪz/ in the US and /ˈsʌnˌraɪz/ in the UK.
British respelling: SUHN-ryze.
What does sunrise mean?
- the first light of day“we got up before dawn”“they talked until morning”
- atmospheric phenomena accompanying the daily appearance of the sun
- the daily event of the sun rising above the horizon
- of an industry or technology; new and developing“high-technology sunrise industries”
Where does sunrise come from?
From Middle English sonne-rys, sunne ryse, equivalent to sun + rise.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying sunrise
How do you pronounce sunrise?
Say SUHN-ryze. The American pronunciation is /ˈsʌnˌraɪz/. In British English it is /ˈsʌnˌraɪz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sunrise?
Sunrise has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHN). Broken into parts: SUHN · ryze.
Do Americans and Brits say sunrise the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsʌnˌraɪz/ and the British form is /ˈsʌnˌraɪz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.