2 syllables: Re, doubt. Stress on doubt.
ree-DOWT
/ɹiˈdaʊt/
Redoubt is pronounced ree-DOWT (/ɹiˈdaʊt/). It has two syllables (Re-doubt), with the stress on "doubt". Redoubt is a heavily fortified defense or embankment, often forming a small, isolated strongpoint within a larger fortification. It can also refer to a retreat or defensive position in a military context. The term conveys a sense of standing ground or protection, typically from artillery or assault, and is used in historical and architectural discussions. (2–4 sentences, concise; 50–80 words).
nounRedoubt is a heavily fortified defense or embankment, often forming a small, isolated strongpoint within a larger fortification. It can also refer to a retreat or defensive position in a military context. The term conveys a sense of standing ground or protection, typically from artillery or assault, and is used in historical and architectural discussions. (2–4 sentences, concise; 50–80 words)
"The soldiers defended the redoubt with earthworks and thick timber palisades."
"During the siege, the commander ordered the garrison to hold the redoubt at all costs."
"A network of redoubts ringed the fortress, expanding its defensive capacity."
Pronounced ri-DAWT, with the second syllable stressed: /rɪˈdaʊt/ in US/UK. The first syllable is a quick, unstressed 'ri-' and the second syllable carries the main stress and the diphthong /aʊ/ like 'out'. In Australian speech you’ll hear a similar /ɹɪˈdaʊt/ pattern, with a slightly more rounded vowel on some speakers. Mouth position: begin with a light /r/ onset, then a clear /ɪ/ or schwa, then a stressed /aʊ/ glide into /t/. Audio reference: try Cambridge or Oxford Pronunciation audio for /rɪˈdaʊt/.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (REE-dowt) and mispronouncing the /aʊ/ as /ɔː/ or /əʊ/. Another frequent slip is articulating a silent or weak final /t/ (reducing to /dau/). Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable: /rɪˈdaʊt/, clearly form the diphthong /aʊ/ from /a/ to /ʊ/, and sharply release the final /t/. Practicing with minimal pairs like rain-out and raw-dout can help you cement the /aʊ/ transition.
In US English you’ll generally hear /rɪˈdaʊt/ with rhotic /r/ and a clear /aʊ/ diphthong. UK speakers may show a slightly clipped /r/ and a more centralized /ə/ before the stressed syllable depending on region, sometimes sounding /rɪˈdaʊt/ with mild non-rhoticity if the speaker is from a non-rhotic area. Australian accents typically retain /r/ in American style but may have a broader vowel and less final t aspiration, yielding /ɹɪˈdaʊt/ with a soft release. IPA references: US /rɪˈdaʊt/, UK /rɪˈdaʊt/, AU /ɹɪˈdaʊt/.
The difficulty centers on the /ɪ/ to /aʊ/ transition and the final /t/ release, which some speakers misplace or skip. The correct sequence is a light initial /r/, a quick /ɪ/ or schwa, then the strong /aʊ/ glide, culminating in a crisp /t/. Regional schwa reductions can blur the first syllable, and non-rhotic varieties may alter the /r/ onset. Focus on the stressed /ˈdaʊ/ and a precise stop after it.
The word’s primary stress on the second syllable and the presence of a clear /aʊ/ diphthong are distinctive. Unlike many two-syllable words, redoubt keeps a strong, audible diphthong rather than an abrupt vowel shift. The /t/ at the end should be a crisp, aspirated release in careful speech, not a silent or glottalized stop. IPA: /rɪˈdaʊt/; mouth positions: start with a light /r/, then /ɪ/, glide to /aʊ/, end with /t/.
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Redoubt derives from French redoute, from Old French redouter ‘to dread, fear,’ with the sense shift to a defensive work or fortress. The French term itself stems from Latin redobere ‘to strike back’ and ultimately from redare ‘to give back.’ In English, redoubt appeared in the 16th century to describe a fortified work detached from the main castle or fortress. By the 17th–18th centuries, it also meant a temporary or secondary defensive position within a siege. The word’s evolution tracks a military vocabulary driven by fortification design, with redobut landmarks in European battlements. The modern sense preserves its emphasis on a protective, elevated, or fortified outwork that can operate semi-independently from the primary stronghold, often built with earth, stone, or masonry. First known usage in English appears around the mid-1500s in military treatises and descriptions of fortifications.
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Words that rhyme with "Redoubt"
-oot sounds
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