How to Pronounce Referee

To pronounce "referee", say REF-er-ee — 3 syllables, IPA /ˌɹɛf.əˈɹiː/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

referee

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Accent

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Speed

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3

Syllables

7

Letters

/ˌɹɛf.əˈɹiː/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “referee”

"referee" has 3 syllables: ref-er-ee. It rhymes with free and devotee, if that helps it stick.

What does referee mean?

noun

  1. An umpire or judge; an official who makes sure the rules are followed during a game.

    “The referee kicked Jim out of the game for fighting.”

  2. A person who settles a dispute.

verb

  1. To act as a referee.

    “He has to referee three hockey games this weekend.”

Hear “referee” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with referee

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

freedevoteeseekeygleescreereparteeapogeesensualitysyncopeespritweighty

Related words

umpirereviewerrefinformantprovisionparticipantarbitrageinterviewee

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "referee"?▾

"Referee" has 3 syllables: ref · er · ee.

What is the IPA transcription of "referee"?▾

The IPA transcription of "referee" is /ˌɹɛf.əˈɹiː/.

What does "referee" mean?▾

Referee: An umpire or judge; an official who makes sure the rules are followed during a game.

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