How to pronounce bikini
Say it like bih-KEE-nee. Bikini has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bikini. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- KEE
- nee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bikini pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- bihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- KEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- neeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of bikini
American and British speakers say bikini in essentially the same way: /bɪˈkini/ in the US and /bɪˈkiːni/ in the UK.
British respelling: bih-KEE-nee.
What does bikini mean?
- an atoll in the Marshall Islands; formerly used by the United States as a site for testing nuclear weapons
- a woman's very brief bathing suit
Where does bikini come from?
From French bikini, named after the place name Bikini, from English Bikini, the name of the atoll where the United States tested nuclear weapons in July 1946; it was reckoned that the bathing suit would cause as much excitement as a nuclear bomb.
Words that rhyme with bikini
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bikini.
Questions about saying bikini
How do you pronounce bikini?
Say bih-KEE-nee. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈkini/. In British English it is /bɪˈkiːni/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bikini?
Bikini has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KEE). Broken into parts: bih · KEE · nee.
Do Americans and Brits say bikini the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bɪˈkini/ and the British form is /bɪˈkiːni/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.