How to pronounce cheap
Say it like CHEEP. Cheap is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- CHEEP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cheap pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHEEPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of cheap
American and British speakers say cheap in essentially the same way: /tʃip/ in the US and /tʃiːp/ in the UK.
British respelling: CHEEP.
What does cheap mean?
- Low or reduced in price.
- Of poor quality.“a writer of cheap romances”
- Of little worth.
Where does cheap come from?
Cognate with Scots chepe (“to sell”), chape (“sale price”), North Frisian keap (“purchase”), West Frisian keap (“purchase, buy, acquisition”), Dutch koop (“buy, purchase, deal”), kopen (“to buy, purchase, shop”), Low German kopen (“to buy”)
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with cheap
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cheap.
Questions about saying cheap
How do you pronounce cheap?
Say CHEEP. The American pronunciation is /tʃip/. In British English it is /tʃiːp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cheap?
Cheap is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: CHEEP.
Do Americans and Brits say cheap the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tʃip/ and the British form is /tʃiːp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.