How to pronounce base
Say it like BAYS. Base is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce base. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAYS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Base pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BAYSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of base
American and British speakers say base in essentially the same way: /beɪs/ in the US and /beɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAYS.
What does base mean?
- installation from which a military force initiates operations“the attack wiped out our forward bases”
- lowest support of a structure“it was built on a base of solid rock”“he stood at the foot of the tower”
- a place that the runner must touch before scoring“he scrambled to get back to the bag”
- serving as or forming a base“the painter applied a base coat followed by two finishing coats”
- of low birth or station (base is archaic in this sense)“baseborn wretches with dirty faces”“of humble (or lowly) birth”
- (used of metals) consisting of or alloyed with inferior metal“base coins of aluminum”“a base metal”
- use as a basis for; found on“base a claim on some observation”
- situate as a center of operations“we will base this project in the new lab”
- use (purified cocaine) by burning it and inhaling the fumes
Words that rhyme with base
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of base.
Words that sound like base
Questions about saying base
How do you pronounce base?
Say BAYS. The American pronunciation is /beɪs/. In British English it is /beɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in base?
Base is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BAYS.
Do Americans and Brits say base the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /beɪs/ and the British form is /beɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as base?
Base sounds the same as bass in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.