rift
/ɹɪft/
rift is pronounced rift (/ɹɪft/). Rift refers to a crack, opening, or division between two parts that were previously connected, often indicating a separation or schism. It can describe physical fissures, social or ideological divides, or gaps in relationships. In geology, it denotes a structural fracture where tectonic plates pull apart. The term suggests a sudden or evolving breach rather than a gradual closing.
Rift refers to a crack, opening, or division between two parts that were previously connected, often indicating a separation or schism. It can describe physical fissures, social or ideological divides, or gaps in relationships. In geology, it denotes a structural fracture where tectonic plates pull apart. The term suggests a sudden or evolving breach rather than a gradual closing.
- You’ll often hear people turn the ending into /ftə/ or /fɒt/ because they insert a schwa before the /t/. Keep it tight: /ɪft/ with no extra vowel between /f/ and /t/. - Another mistake is coarticulating with a preceding vowel that’s too lax; ensure a short, tense /ɪ/ and a clear, unaspirated or lightly aspirated /t/. - Finally, some learners voice the final /t/ as /d/ due to regional influence; practice with a voiceless stop. - Practice drill: say “rift” in isolation, then in a phrase, then as part of a sentence to cement coda accuracy.
"There was a rift between the siblings after the argument."
"A rift formed in the ice as the surface layer started to crack."
"The political party experienced a rift that split its leadership."
/rɪft/ in US, UK, and AU. The word is stress-free (monosyllabic) with a short, lax vowel /ɪ/. Start with a light, quick /r/ followed by a short /ɪ/ as in sit, then release into a crisp /f/ and end with a voiceless /t/. Tip: avoid turning the /t/ into a flap; keep a clean stop at the end. You can listen to recordings at Forvo or YouGlish for native examples.
Common errors: (1) Substituting /ɪ/ with a more tense vowel like /iː/, producing /riːft/; (2) adding a vowel before /t/ (e.g., /rɪftə/ or /rɪftɪ/); (3) voicing the final /t/ as /d/ in some dialects. Corrections: keep the short /ɪ/ as in sit, cut the air quickly for /f/, and end with a crisp, unreleased /t/ or a clearly aspirated stop if you’re careful about onset and coda timing. Practice with minimal pairs.
Across US/UK/AU, /r/ is generally rhotic in US and AU (you pronounce /r/ before vowels), while UK RP can be non-rhotic; however, in many modern UK accents the /r/ is still pronounced before a vowel. The vowel /ɪ/ remains short in all, but vowel length and quality can vary slightly with Australian English often maintaining a shorter, tenser /ɪ/. Overall, the key is keeping /r/ crisp (US/AU) or dropping it in non-rhotic UK styles while preserving the final /ft/ cluster's voiceless release.
The difficulty lies in the final /ft/ cluster, which requires a precise stop after a fricative. Many speakers merge /f/ and /t/ or insert a vowel between them. Also, the short /ɪ/ can be produced with varying tenseness depending on surrounding sounds. The challenge is coordinating tongue tip position for /t/ without voicing and maintaining a quick release from /f/ into /t/. Focusing on a clean /f/ + crisp /t/ can help.”,
Rift has a two-consonant coda cluster /ft/ after a short vowel. The most distinctive feature is the abrupt transition from a voiceless fricative /f/ directly into a voiceless stop /t/. Maintain clean air pressure for the /f/ and a precise alveolar closure for the /t/ without voicing. Visualize the tip touching the alveolar ridge at the release to ensure a crisp end.
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- US: rhoticity means you’ll often have a pronounced /r/ before vowels in connected speech; keep /r/ light in this word since it’s not followed by a vowel here. Vowel: /ɪ/ is short and lax; keep it relaxed, not tenser than in ‘sit’. Final cluster /ft/: crisp stop with strong air release; avoid voicing the /t/. - UK: many speakers are non-rhotic; the /r/ is not pronounced before a vowel. In careful speech, you might omit /r/ entirely; keep /ɪ/ compact and short. The /ft/ cluster should be clear; avoid turning into /f/ or a longer vowel before /t/. - AU: similar to US in rhoticity, but the /ɪ/ can be slightly higher and tenser; keep the /t/ crisp, not flapped, and avoid adding a vowel after /f/. IPA cues: /rɪft/; focus on ɪ, f, t precision.
Rift comes from Middle English rift, riffen, meaning a cleft or break, akin to Old Norse rifja or Old English ryft, with roots connected to Germanic languages that denote tearing or breaking apart. The sense shift from a physical crack to a broader metaphorical division appeared in the late medieval period, expanding through the 17th–19th centuries with social and political connotations. The word’s core idea—an opening or breach created by separation—remains consistent, but its usage broadened to describe emotional rifts in relationships, ideological splits within groups, and geological formations. First known usage in English documents traces to the 14th century, with early forms appearing in legal and geographic contexts as communities noted fissures in landscapes or structures. Over time, rift has become a common metaphor for conflict, innovation entry points (as in “rift in the market”), and tectonic processes, while retaining its simple, precise core meaning of a break or opening between joined parts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "rift" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "rift" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "rift"
-ift sounds
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