How to pronounce wreak
Say it like REEK. Wreak 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 wreak. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- REEK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wreak pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- REEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of wreak
American and British speakers say wreak in essentially the same way: /rik/ in the US and /riːk/ in the UK.
British respelling: REEK.
What does wreak mean?
- To cause harm; to afflict; to inflict; to harm or injure; to let out harm.“The earthquake wreaked havoc in the city.”
Where does wreak come from?
From Middle English wreken, from Old English wrecan, from Proto-West Germanic *wrekan, from Proto-Germanic *wrekaną, from Proto-Indo-European *wreg- (“push, shove, drive, track down”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with wreak
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wreak.
Words that sound like wreak
Questions about saying wreak
How do you pronounce wreak?
Say REEK. The American pronunciation is /rik/. In British English it is /riːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wreak?
Wreak is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: REEK.
Do Americans and Brits say wreak the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rik/ and the British form is /riːk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as wreak?
Wreak sounds the same as reek in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.