2 syllables: Rec, ce. Stress on Rec.
REK-see
/ˈɹɛk.siː/
Recce is pronounced REK-see (/ˈɹɛk.siː/). It has two syllables (Rec-ce), with the stress on "Rec". Recce (noun) refers to a reconnaissance mission or visit to inspect an area before action. In military and fieldwork contexts, it denotes gathering information, surveying terrain, or scouting capabilities. The term is often used informally to describe a preliminary inspection aimed at reducing uncertainty before a main operation.
nounRecce (noun) refers to a reconnaissance mission or visit to inspect an area before action. In military and fieldwork contexts, it denotes gathering information, surveying terrain, or scouting capabilities. The term is often used informally to describe a preliminary inspection aimed at reducing uncertainty before a main operation.
"The platoon sent a quick recce of the valley at dawn to map out enemy positions."
"Before the conference, they did a recce of the venue to check acoustics and seating."
"The expedition leader ordered a quick recce of the trail to identify potential hazards."
Recce is pronounced as /ˈrɛs.i/ (US/UK). The stressed syllable is the first: REC-ce. The vowel in the first syllable is a short “e” as in “red,” and the second syllable is a soft schwa or short “i” depending on the speaker. You’ll typically hear “REH-see” with a crisp ‘r’ in non-rhotic accents. If you’re speaking quickly, the final vowel may reduce to a subtle vowel, but keep it audible to avoid “wreck-see” confusion. IPA guide: US/UK /ˈrɛs.i/; AU /ˈrɛs.i/.
Common mistakes include elongating the second syllable or turning it into ‘wreck-see.’ Some speakers mispronounce the first vowel as a full ‘eɪ’ or use a hard consonant at the end instead of a short ‘i’ sound. To fix: use a short, lax first vowel /ɛ/ and end with a light /i/ or schwa. Stress remains on the first syllable: /ˈrɛs.i/. Practicing with minimal pairs like ‘messy’ vs ‘recce’ can help lock in the correct vowel quality and cadence.
In US/UK/AU, the word retains /ˈrɛsi/ or /ˈrɛs.i/ depending on the speaker. The main variation is vowel quality in non-rhotic UK accents where the final ‘e’ may be closer to a schwa or a short /i/. Australian English tends to be close to /ˈɹɛsi/ with a slightly clipped final vowel. Rhoticity influences whether you pronounce an audible /r/ before a vowel in some speakers, but in recce this endings are typically not rhotacized. Overall, the first syllable remains stressed across accents.
The challenge lies in achieving a short, crisp first vowel /ɛ/ followed by a light, unaccented final /i/ or schwa. Many speakers anticipate the second syllable and overemphasize it, creating a two-syllable feel instead of the quick, two-beat rhythm. The word’s brevity and the need for precise consonant timing—short, quick release of the final /i/—make it easy to mispronounce as /ˈriːsi/ or /ˈrɛk.i/ with a longer first vowel.
Does the final vowel of recce always reduce to a schwa, or can it be a full /i/ depending on speaker? In practice, many speakers, especially in British and informal American use, end with a short /i/ or a reduced vowel similar to schwa. You’ll hear slight variation: /ˈrɛsi/ with a crisp short /i/ or a barely audible schwa, depending on tempo and formality. For clarity, aim for /ˈrɛs.i/ with a light, quick second syllable.
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Recce is short for reconnaissance, with origins in military jargon. The word reconnaissance derives from Old French reconnaissance, from reconoistre ‘to recognize’ (from Latin re-, ‘again, once more’ + cognoscere ‘to learn, know’). The term was adopted into English military parlance in the 19th century and later broadened to civilian contexts like film production and exploration. The abbreviation recce gained popularity in British and Commonwealth usage, especially within the UK Army and Royal Marines, and has since entered wider colloquial use in many English-speaking regions. The evolution of the word reflects a shift from formal military reporting to brief, project-focused preliminary inspections. First known uses appear in mid- to late-20th century military communications and then in media industries for location scouting. In contemporary usage, recce is recognized as a noun (or verb in some dialects: “to recce a site”) describing a preliminary assessment conducted to minimize risk and improve planning outcomes.
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Words that rhyme with "Recce"
-see sounds
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