Rifle (noun) refers to a long-barreled firearm designed for accurate aimed shooting. In common usage, it denotes the firearm itself or the act of firing a rifle. The word can also function as a verb meaning to search or ransack, though this sense is far less common today. Pronunciation emphasizes two syllables with primary stress on the first syllable: RI-fle.
"The rifle was kept securely in the locked cabinet."
"Soldiers practiced marksmanship with their rifles at dawn."
"He bought a hunting rifle for deer season."
"The detective rifled through the drawer looking for the missing keys."
Rifle comes from the Italian riflare in the 16th century meaning to scratch or score, later associated with the rifling of gun barrels to impart spin. The English term emerged in the 17th century, originally referring to a type of firearm with grooves in the barrel to increase accuracy. The root concept of rifling—engraved grooves—appears in military manuals of the late 1600s, where rifles were contrasted with smoothbore muskets. By the 18th and 19th centuries, rifles evolved with better metallurgy and standardized calibers, spreading globally as firearms technology advanced. In some contexts, “to rifle” entered slang meaning to pry or rummage quickly, likely drawing from the action of rifling through a drawer or a cartridge belt. The word’s core sense remains tied to precise, long-range shooting, while metaphorical uses emerged in literature and journalism during the 19th and 20th centuries. First known use in English is documented in military treatises of the 1600s, with public adoption accelerating through colonial and industrial periods as firearms became more widespread.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Rifle" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Rifle"
-fle sounds
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Pronounce as /ˈraɪ.fəl/ in US and UK English. Start with a stressed 'RI' sound: the long diphthong /aɪ/ as in 'ride', then a light, quick schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable, followed by an /l/. In IPA: US /ˈraɪ.fəl/, UK /ˈraɪ.fəl/, AU /ˈraɪ.fəl/. Keep the first syllable slightly longer and avoid adding extra stress to the second syllable. You’ll want a clean break between syllables: RI-ful, with the /ɹ/ fully released and the /f/ crisp. Audio tip: listen to standard pronunciations on Pronounce or Cambridge audio clips and imitate the smooth transition from /aɪ/ to /f/.
Common errors include turning /aɪ/ into a shorter /ɪ/ vowel (ri-fil instead of rai-fəl) and over-emphasizing the second syllable as /fiːl/. Another frequent slip is pronouncing the final as /l/ with a stronger vowel like /eɪ/ (rahy-fayl) or adding an extra syllable. To correct: keep /ˈraɪ/ as a clear diphthong, then a short, neutral /ə/ or /əl/ in the second syllable, and end with a light /l/. Practice with minimal pairs and record yourself to ensure you’re not elongating the second syllable. Use the IPA guide and shadow native speakers at natural pace to solidify the two-beat rhythm.
In American English, /ˈraɪ.fəl/ with a rhotic r and a short, unstressed second syllable. British pronunciation also uses /ˈraɪ.fəl/ but may soften the /ə/ toward a near-schwa; some UK speakers reduce to /ˈraɪ.fəl/ with an even lighter final /l/. Australian English similarly uses /ˈraɪ.fəl/ but with a slightly broader vowel in the diphthong /aɪ/ and less pronounced rhoticity in informal speech. The main difference lies in vowel quality and r-coloring; while US is rhotic and crisp, some UK and AU varieties show subtler rhotic effects and a slightly different vowel length. Listen for the final /əl/ cluster: in fast speech it can become /əl/ or even /l/ without a full vowel. For practice, compare recordings from Pronounce, Forvo, and YouGlish for these varieties.
The challenge lies in accurately producing the /aɪ/ diphthong in the first syllable and the reduced /əl/ in the second, especially when speaking quickly. Non-native speakers often substitute /aɪ/ with /ɪ/ or merge the syllables, saying /ˈrɪ.fəl/ or /ˈraɪl/ (confusing with ‘rifle’ as a verb). The final syllable’s vowel can shift toward /ɛ/ or /ɪ/ in some dialects, altering the rhythm. Practice focusing on a clear glide from /aɪ/ to /ə/ and keep the /l/ light and quick. Listen to native clips and imitate the exact transitions, using IPA targets as your anchor.
In standard pronunciation, the final is not a separate vowel; the ending is /əl/ with a light schwa or reduced vowel followed by an /l/. The stress remains on the first syllable: RI-ful. Some speakers may de-emphasize the schwa, making it more like /əl/ or even /l/. The word does not have a silent letter; the final /e/ is not a separate vowel letter here. Focus on keeping the energy of the first syllable high and releasing quickly into a short, soft second syllable. This keeps the word audible and natural in fluent speech.
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