How to pronounce asleep
Say it like uh-SLEEP. Asleep has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SLEEP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce asleep. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- SLEEP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Asleep 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.
- SLEEPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of asleep
American and British speakers say asleep in essentially the same way: /əˈslip/ in the US and /əˈsliːp/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-SLEEP.
What does asleep mean?
- in a state of sleep“were all asleep when the phone rang”“fell asleep at the wheel”
- lacking sensation“my foot is asleep”“numb with cold”
- dead“he is deceased”“our dear departed friend”
- into a sleeping state“he fell asleep”
- in the sleep of death
Where does asleep come from?
From Middle English aslepe, equivalent to a- (“in, on”) + sleep.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with asleep
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of asleep.
Questions about saying asleep
How do you pronounce asleep?
Say uh-SLEEP. The American pronunciation is /əˈslip/. In British English it is /əˈsliːp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in asleep?
Asleep has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SLEEP). Broken into parts: uh · SLEEP.
Do Americans and Brits say asleep the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈslip/ and the British form is /əˈsliːp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.