How to pronounce bait
Say it like BAYT. Bait is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- BAYT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bait pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BAYTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of bait
American and British speakers say bait in essentially the same way: /beɪt/ in the US and /beɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAYT.
What does bait mean?
- Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.“attach bait to a hook”
- Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.
- Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something.
- To attract with bait; to entice.
- To affix bait to a trap or a fishing hook or fishing line.
- To lay baits in an environment to control pest species.
- To set dogs on (an animal etc.) to bite or worry; to attack with dogs, especially for sport.“to bait a bear with dogs”
- To intentionally annoy, torment, or threaten by constant rebukes or threats; to harass.
- Of a horse or other animal: to take food, especially during a journey.
Where does bait come from?
From Middle English bayte, bait, beite, from Old Norse beita (“food, bait”), from Proto-Germanic *baitō (“that which is bitten, bait”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to cleave, split, separate”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with bait
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bait.
Words that sound like bait
- bate
- beit
Questions about saying bait
How do you pronounce bait?
Say BAYT. The American pronunciation is /beɪt/. In British English it is /beɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bait?
Bait is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BAYT.
Do Americans and Brits say bait the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /beɪt/ and the British form is /beɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as bait?
Bait sounds the same as bate, beit in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.