“Rye” or “Wry”

Overview

rye / wry are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

rye: (noun) the seed of the cereal grass. (noun) hardy annual cereal grass widely cultivated in northern Europe where its grain is the chief ingredient of black bread and in North America for forage and soil improvement. (noun) whiskey distilled from rye or rye and malt.

wry: (adjective) bent to one side.

Pronunciation

rye: r·AY

wry: r·AY

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