How to pronounce writ
Say it like RIT. Writ 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 writ. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RIT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Writ pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of writ
American and British speakers say writ in essentially the same way: /rɪt/ in the US and /rɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: RIT.
What does writ mean?
- A written order, issued by a court, ordering someone to do (or stop doing) something.
- A document ordering that an election be conducted.
- An order issued by the House of Lords summoning peers to the Chamber.
Where does writ come from?
From Middle English writ, from Old English writ and ġewrit (“writing”), from Proto-Germanic *writą (“fissure, writing”), from Proto-Indo-European *wrey-, *wrī- (“to scratch, carve, ingrave”).
Words that rhyme with writ
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of writ.
Questions about saying writ
How do you pronounce writ?
Say RIT. The American pronunciation is /rɪt/. In British English it is /rɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in writ?
Writ is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: RIT.
Do Americans and Brits say writ the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪt/ and the British form is /rɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.