3 syllables: Re, vel, ry. Stress on Re.
REV-uhl-ree
/ˈɹɛvəlɹi/
Revelry is pronounced REV-uhl-ree (/ˈɹɛvəlɹi/). It has three syllables (Re-vel-ry), with the stress on "Re". Revelry is lively, noisy celebration or merrymaking, often with music, dancing, and drinks. It denotes festive, exuberant enjoyment that can be boisterous or raucous, typically in a social setting. The term emphasizes collective amusement and ritualized celebration rather than quiet reflection.
nounRevelry is lively, noisy celebration or merrymaking, often with music, dancing, and drinks. It denotes festive, exuberant enjoyment that can be boisterous or raucous, typically in a social setting. The term emphasizes collective amusement and ritualized celebration rather than quiet reflection.
"The city erupted in revelry after the championship win."
"Neighbors complained about the late-night revelry spilling into the street."
"Her birthday party turned into a wild night of revelry with friends from college."
Pronounce it as ri-LEV-ree, with secondary stress on the first syllable and primary stress on the second syllable: /rɪˈlɛvri/. The first vowel is a short /ɪ/ (as in kit), the /ˈlɛ/ has the emphasis, and the final /ri/ sounds like “ree.” In careful speech, the /r/ is pronounced clearly; in faster speech, some speakers may de-emphasize the second r, but do not drop it entirely. Audio reference: listen for /rɪˈlɛvri/ in diction resources or Pronounce.
Common errors include slurring the middle /lɛ/ cluster or turning /lɛv/ into /lɛf/ due to misperceived vowel length, and misplacing primary stress on the first syllable: ri-LEV-ry. Another error is reducing the final /ri/ to a dull schwa; keep the final /ri/ as /ri/ with a clear 'ee' sound. Practice with minimal pairs like revel vs revelry and emphasize the second syllable /ˈlɛv/.
In US and UK accents, the word keeps /rɪˈlɛvri/ with rhoticity (US r) and non-rhotic tendencies in careful UK speech may still retain /r/ before a vowel. Australian English typically maintains /r/ but with a slightly more centralized vowel /ɪ/ and a broader /ɪ/ in the first vowel; the final /ri/ tends to be crisper and less reduced. Overall, the primary stress remains on the second syllable /ˈlɛv/ across these varieties.
Two main challenges are the cluster transition from /v/ to /l/ and the final /ri/ syllable, which can reduce to a softer /ri/ if not careful. The /r/ onset in American English is strongly pronounced, while the resolution of the /vli/ cluster can feel tight for non-native speakers. The short /ɪ/ in the first syllable should not become a long, lax vowel. Mastery requires practicing the syllable boundary and keeping the stress clean on /ˈlɛv/.
Yes, the word’s stress pattern is unique: the root syllable /ˈlɛv/ carries primary stress, which can be surprising since the word starts with a lighter /rɪ/ onset. Also, the final /ri/ needs an audible /i/ vowel rather than a reduced vowel, which is common in rapid speech. This matters especially in careful enunciation, where you’ll hear a crisp end syllable instead of a muted one.
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Revelry derives from the Middle English revelrie, from Old French reveler (to revel) and revel, which in turn comes from Latin revelāre (to revel, to unhide). The sense center shifted from secretive, playful reveling to public, exuberant festivity over time. In Middle English, revelry appeared as revelrie or revelry, linked to revel, a term for carnival-like feasting and merrymaking. The root reveler originally referred to a person who roams at night, making noise and merry, and by the Early Modern period it had become the general term for boisterous celebration. By the 17th and 18th centuries, revelry commonly described organized public festivities, often with music, dance, and revelers in costume. The word’s evolution parallels shifts in social customs around feasting, theater, and communal rites. Today, revelry retains its sense of exuberant, public merriment, though it can carry both positive and mildly negative connotations depending on context (joyful celebration vs. disruptive noise). First known use attested in late medieval England, with broader literary usage appearing in early modern English prose and poetry.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Revelry" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Revelry" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Revelry"
-ery sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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