How to pronounce bagpipes
Say it like BAG-pyps. Bagpipes has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bagpipes. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAG
- pyps
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bagpipes pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BAGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- pypsGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of bagpipes
American and British speakers say bagpipes in essentially the same way: /ˈbæɡˌpaɪps/ in the US and /ˈbæɡˌpaɪps/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAG-pyps.
What does bagpipes mean?
- A musical wind instrument possessing a flexible bag inflated by bellows, a double-reed melody pipe and up to four drone pipes; any aerophone that produces sound using air from a reservoir to vibrate enclosed reeds.“Bagpipes are traditionally played in most Celtic regions and many former parts of the British Empire.”
Where does bagpipes come from?
From earlier bagpipe, from Middle English bagpipe; equivalent to bag + pipes.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying bagpipes
How do you pronounce bagpipes?
Say BAG-pyps. The American pronunciation is /ˈbæɡˌpaɪps/. In British English it is /ˈbæɡˌpaɪps/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bagpipes?
Bagpipes has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAG). Broken into parts: BAG · pyps.
Do Americans and Brits say bagpipes the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbæɡˌpaɪps/ and the British form is /ˈbæɡˌpaɪps/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.