3 syllables: A, rriv, al. Stress on rriv.
ur-EYE-vuhl
/ɚˈaɪvəl/
Arrival is pronounced ur-EYE-vuhl (/ɚˈaɪvəl/). It has three syllables (A-rriv-al), with the stress on "rriv". Arrival is the act of reaching a destination or the moment something or someone arrives. It denotes a coming-to-land or reaching a scheduled point in time, often carrying implications of arrival status, processing, or entry. The term is commonly used in travel, logistics, events, and narratives to mark the point at which something is encountered or presented.
nounArrival is the act of reaching a destination or the moment something or someone arrives. It denotes a coming-to-land or reaching a scheduled point in time, often carrying implications of arrival status, processing, or entry. The term is commonly used in travel, logistics, events, and narratives to mark the point at which something is encountered or presented.
How to Pronounce Arrival
"The arrival of the train was announced with a loud whistle."
"Pack your bags; the arrival window is between 6 and 7 p.m."
"Her arrival at the conference was delayed by a flight cancellation."
Arrival is pronounced with three syllables: a-RRI-val. The primary stress sits on the second syllable: /əˈraɪ.vəl/ in General American and /əˈraɪ.vəl/ in Received Pronunciation. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, glide into a stressed 'rye' sound, then finish with a light 'vəl' ending. Think 'uh-RAI-vuhl,' and use IPA /əˈraɪ.vəl/. Audio reference: listen to native speakers saying 'arrival' in context, then imitate the rhythm and vowel quality.
Two common errors: (1) Placing primary stress on the first syllable as in 'ARR-ival' instead of 'a-RI-val,' and (2) mispronouncing the middle vowel as a long 'ee' or 'i' sound. Correct by tightening the diphthong in the second syllable to /aɪ/ (as in 'buy') and keeping the final /vəl/ light and unstressed. Practice with minimal pairs and emphasis on the middle syllable to prevent clumping.
In US English, /əˈraɪ.vəl/ with a rhotic, relaxed first syllable and a clear /ɹ/ in the second. UK English keeps the same core vowels but a slightly sharper final /əl/, and the rhoticity is weaker or non-rhotic in some UK varieties, giving an almost 'ə-RAI-vuhl' without a pronounced /r/ in informal speech. Australian English tends to reduce the final syllable slightly, with vowels moving toward a centralized schwa-like quality but retaining /əˈraɪ.vəl/. Refer to IPA: US /əˈraɪ.vəl/, UK /əˈraɪ.vəl/, AU /əˈɹaɪ.vəl/.
The difficulty lies in maintaining the mid-word stress on the second syllable while producing a clear /aɪ/ diphthong in the second syllable and a soft, light /vəl/ at the end. The sequence a-RI-val requires accurate vowel height and duration (the /aɪ/ needs a smooth glide). Learners often misplace stress or merge /r/ with a preceding schwa. Focus on keeping the second syllable prominent and ensuring the final 'val' is light and quick.
Arrival combines a weak initial syllable with a strong middle syllable, followed by a light final. The challenge is balancing the schwa onset with the high-low glide of /aɪ/ and ensuring the /v/ is voiced clearly without extra lip tension. Practicing with paired phrases (e.g., 'arrival time', 'arrivals gate') helps embed natural rhythm. Also, pay attention to the transition from /ə/ to /raɪ/ and then to /vəl/ for a smooth overall flow.
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Arrival comes from the late Middle English arrivalen, from Old French arriver (to reach or come to), from arriver meaning 'to reach a place, land, or home,' ultimately from Latin ad- (toward) + ripare (to seize or snatch; related to ripa 'river bank'). The sense evolved through travel and maritime language, where a ship’s arrival indicated reaching a port or destination. In English, the noun form solidified in the 16th–17th centuries, paralleling other movement nouns like departure, passage, or landing. Over time, arrival broadened beyond physical movement to denote the appearance of events, results, or arrival times in schedules, logistics, or narratives. The word has maintained its core idea of approaching and reaching a point, with common collocations such as flight arrival, arrival time, and arrival hall reflecting its travel-centric origins.
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Words that rhyme with "Arrival"
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