How to pronounce ahead
Say it like uh-HED. Ahead has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ahead. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- HED
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ahead pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- HEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of ahead
American and British speakers say ahead in essentially the same way: /əˈhɛd/ in the US and /əˈhɛd/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-HED.
What does ahead mean?
- at or in the front“I see the lights of a town ahead”“the road ahead is foggy”
- toward the future; forward in time“I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring”“I look forward to seeing you”
- in a forward direction“go ahead”“the train moved ahead slowly”
- having the leading position or higher score in a contest“he is ahead by a pawn”“the leading team in the pennant race”
Where does ahead come from?
From a- + head. Perhaps originally a nautical term, beyond the head (of a ship), then drifting into more general English usage where it is used to describe something as being in front of.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with ahead
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ahead.
Questions about saying ahead
How do you pronounce ahead?
Say uh-HED. The American pronunciation is /əˈhɛd/. In British English it is /əˈhɛd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ahead?
Ahead has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HED). Broken into parts: uh · HED.
Do Americans and Brits say ahead the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈhɛd/ and the British form is /əˈhɛd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.