How to pronounce thrift
Say it like THRIFT. Thrift 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 thrift. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- THRIFT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Thrift pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THRIFTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of thrift
American and British speakers say thrift in essentially the same way: /θrɪft/ in the US and /θrɪft/ in the UK.
British respelling: THRIFT.
What does thrift mean?
- The characteristic of using a minimum of something (especially money).“His thrift can be seen in how little the trashman takes from his house.”
- A savings bank.“Usually, home mortgages are obtained from thrifts.”
- Any of various plants of the genus Armeria, particularly Armeria maritima.
- To shop or browse at a thrift shop; to buy (something) at a thrift shop.“They like to go thrifting on weekends.”
Where does thrift come from?
From Middle English thrift, thryfte, þrift, from Old Norse þrift (“thriving condition, prosperity”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with thrift
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of thrift.
Questions about saying thrift
How do you pronounce thrift?
Say THRIFT. The American pronunciation is /θrɪft/. In British English it is /θrɪft/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thrift?
Thrift is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: THRIFT.
Do Americans and Brits say thrift the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /θrɪft/ and the British form is /θrɪft/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.