How to Pronounce Rival

To pronounce "rival", say RIV-al — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈɹaɪvəl/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

rival

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Accent

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2

Syllables

5

Letters

/ˈɹaɪvəl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “rival”

"rival" has 2 syllables: riv-al. It rhymes with revival and arrival, if that helps it stick.

What does rival mean?

noun

  1. A competitor (person, team, company, etc.) with the same goal as another, or striving to attain the same thing. Defeating a rival may be a primary or necessary goal of a competitor.

    “Chris is my biggest rival in the 400-metre race.”

  2. Someone or something with similar claims of quality or distinction as another.

    “As a social historian, he has no rival.”

verb

  1. To oppose or compete with.

    “to rival somebody in love”

  2. To be equal to, or match, or to surpass another.

adjective

  1. Having the same pretensions or claims; standing in competition for superiority.

    “rival lovers; rival claims or pretensions”

Hear “rival” 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 rival

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

revivalarrivalnivalsurvivalarchivalarchrival

Related words

competitorcompetitorychallengercompetitioncompetingcontendercompetitivetouch

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "rival"?▾

"Rival" has 2 syllables: riv · al.

What is the IPA transcription of "rival"?▾

The IPA transcription of "rival" is /ˈɹaɪvəl/.

What does "rival" mean?▾

Rival: A competitor (person, team, company, etc.) with the same goal as another, or striving to attain the same thing. Defeating a rival may be a primary or necessary goal of a competitor.

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