How to Pronounce “respite”

American (US)

/ˈrespaɪt/

British (UK)

/ˈrespaɪt/

noun — A short period of rest or relief from something difficult.

Example: The rain gave the firefighters a brief respite.

Synonyms: reprieve, break, lull

The final e is silent. The transcription /ˈrespaɪt/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “respite” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “respite” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈrespaɪt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

What does "respite" mean?

respite (noun): A short period of rest or relief from something difficult. For example — The rain gave the firefighters a brief respite.

How do you pronounce "respite" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "respite", /ˈrespaɪt/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "respite"?

/ˈrespaɪt/ in American English, /ˈrespaɪt/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "respite"?

“respite” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈrespaɪt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.