How to Pronounce River

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

river

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/ˈɹɪvə/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “river”

"river" has 2 syllables: riv-er. It rhymes with quiver and deliver, if that helps it stick.

What does river mean?

noun

A large and often winding stream which drains a land mass, carrying water down from higher areas to a lower point, oftentimes ending in another body of water, such as an ocean or in an inland sea.
“Occasionally rivers overflow their banks and cause floods.”
Any large flow of a liquid in a single body.
“a river of blood”

verb

To improve one’s hand to beat another player on the final card in a poker game.
“Johnny rivered me by drawing that ace of spades.”

Hear “river” 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 river

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

quiver deliver sliver caregiver giver liver upriver ivar downriver

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "river"?▾

"River" has 2 syllables: riv · er.

What is the IPA transcription of "river"?▾

The IPA transcription of "river" is /ˈɹɪvə/.

What does "river" mean?▾

River: A large and often winding stream which drains a land mass, carrying water down from higher areas to a lower point, oftentimes ending in another body of water, such as an ocean or in an inland sea.

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