Accent test

How to pronounce retire

retire
/rɪˈtaɪr/
2 syllables, stress on the second

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There is a second pronunciation: /riːˈtaɪr/.

Retire, sound by sound

/r/as in redThe tongue curls back and touches nothing. No tap, no trill.
/ɪ/as in shipA short, relaxed sound. Do not stretch it into “ee”.
/t/as in tenTongue tip on the ridge behind the upper teeth, not on the teeth. With a light puff of air.
/aɪ/as in timeGlide from “ah” to a short “i”. One syllable.
/r/as in redThe tongue curls back and touches nothing. No tap, no trill.

In a sentence

His decision to retire surprised all of us.

Words that rhyme with retire

More words with the /r/ sound

Questions and answers

How do you pronounce retire?

Retire is pronounced /rɪˈtaɪr/ in American English. A second pronunciation, /riːˈtaɪr/, is also used.

How many syllables are in retire?

Retire has 2 syllables.

Which syllable is stressed in retire?

The second syllable: /rɪˈtaɪr/.

What rhymes with retire?

lyre, tyre.

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