How to pronounce chai
Say it like CHY. Chai 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 chai. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- CHY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Chai pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of chai
American and British speakers say chai in essentially the same way: /tʃaɪ/ in the US and /tʃaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: CHY.
What does chai mean?
- A female Romani.
- Any tea beverage, but especially milk tea, regardless of whether it is spiced.
- A Jewish symbol representing life, traditionally worn as an amulet.
Where does chai come from?
Borrowed from Romani ćhaj (“Romani girl, daughter”).
Words that rhyme with chai
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of chai.
Questions about saying chai
How do you pronounce chai?
Say CHY. The American pronunciation is /tʃaɪ/. In British English it is /tʃaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in chai?
Chai is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: CHY.
Do Americans and Brits say chai the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tʃaɪ/ and the British form is /tʃaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.