How to Pronounce Refuse

To pronounce "refuse", say REF-us-e — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈɹɛfjuːs/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

refuse

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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3

Syllables

6

Letters

/ˈɹɛfjuːs/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “refuse”

"refuse" has 3 syllables: ref-us-e. It rhymes with peruse and abuse, if that helps it stick.

What does refuse mean?

noun

  1. Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.

adjective

  1. Discarded, rejected.

Synonyms

discardsgarbagerubbishtrash

Hear “refuse” 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 refuse

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

peruseabuseinfusediffusefuseexcuseoozemisuseboozeamusenewssuffuse

Related words

rejectdenyresistdefydeclinegarbage

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "refuse"?▾

"Refuse" has 3 syllables: ref · us · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "refuse"?▾

The IPA transcription of "refuse" is /ˈɹɛfjuːs/.

What does "refuse" mean?▾

Refuse: Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.

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