How to pronounce "race"

race

Sports & Recreation
American
/reɪs/

Syllable Breakdown

race

How natives say race

British
/reɪs/

Syllable Breakdown

race

How natives say race

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 'r' sound. Curl your tongue back slightly.

  • Move to the long 'a' sound as in 'day'. Open your mouth wider.

  • End with the 's' sound. Let the air flow through your teeth.

Common Mistakes

  • ray-s (r-eys)

  • ra-ce (rah-cee)

  • rees (rees)

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 'r' sound. Keep your lips relaxed.

  • Move to the long 'a' sound as in 'day'. Open your mouth wider.

  • End with the 's' sound. Ensure continuous airflow.

common mistakes

  • ray-s (r-eys)

  • ra-ce (rah-cee)

  • rees (rees)

FAQ

Why is it not pronounced as 'ray-ce'?

The 'a' in 'race' does not split into separate syllables.

Is the 'r' pronounced differently?

Yes, the American 'r' is more pronounced and rhotic.

Why does 'race' rhyme with 'face'?

Both words have a similar vowel and consonant ending sound.

Definition

race

A competition to see who is fastest.

Word Family

racer

/ˈreɪsər/

noun

A person or thing that races

Example: He is a fast racer.

racing

/ˈreɪsɪŋ/

noun/verb

The action of taking part in a race

Example: She loves racing.

racecourse

/ˈreɪskɔːrs/

noun

A track for horse races

Example: We went to the racecourse.

Key Pronunciation Differences

'Racer' ends with an unstressed 'er'.

'Racing' includes a soft 'ing' ending sound.

'Racecourse' combines 'race' with a soft 'course'.

Pro Tips

Practice with rhymes

Practice 'race' with 'face', 'place', and 'grace' to master the sound.

Record yourself

Use a recorder to listen and adjust your pronunciation.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Race

adventure

/ədˈvɛntʃər/

amateur

/ˈæm.ə.tʃɚ/

appeal

/əˈpil/

appreciate

/əˈpriʃiˌeɪt/

athlete

/ˈæθ.liːt/

ball

/bɔl/

basin

/ˈbeɪ.sən/

basket

/ˈbæskɪt/

Other Categories

Test Your Pronunciation On Words Within Other Categories

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abroad

ability

agenda