How to pronounce awake
Say it like uh-WAYK. Awake has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WAYK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce awake. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- WAYK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Awake 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.
- WAYKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of awake
American and British speakers say awake in essentially the same way: /əˈweɪk/ in the US and /əˈweɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-WAYK.
What does awake mean?
- stop sleeping“She woke up to the sound of the alarm clock”
- not in a state of sleep; completely conscious“lay awake thinking about his new job”“still not fully awake”
- mentally perceptive and responsive“an alert mind”“alert to the problems”
Where does awake come from?
From Middle English awake, a shortened form of awaken (“awakened, awake”), past participle of Middle English awaken (“to awaken”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with awake
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of awake.
Questions about saying awake
How do you pronounce awake?
Say uh-WAYK. The American pronunciation is /əˈweɪk/. In British English it is /əˈweɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in awake?
Awake has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WAYK). Broken into parts: uh · WAYK.
Do Americans and Brits say awake the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈweɪk/ and the British form is /əˈweɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.