How to pronounce check
Say it like CHEK. Check 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 check. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- CHEK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Check pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of check
American and British speakers say check in essentially the same way: /tʃɛk/ in the US and /tʃɛk/ in the UK.
British respelling: CHEK.
What does check mean?
- examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition“check the brakes”“Check out the engine”
- make an examination or investigation“check into the rumor”“check the time of the class”
- be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something“He verified that the valves were closed”“See that the curtains are closed”
- a written order directing a bank to pay money“he paid all his bills by check”
- an appraisal of the state of affairs“they made an assay of the contents”“a check on its dependability under stress”
- the bill in a restaurant“he asked the waiter for the check”
Where does check come from?
All of the English senses developed from the chess sense.
Words that rhyme with check
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of check.
Words that sound like check
Questions about saying check
How do you pronounce check?
Say CHEK. The American pronunciation is /tʃɛk/. In British English it is /tʃɛk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in check?
Check is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: CHEK.
Do Americans and Brits say check the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tʃɛk/ and the British form is /tʃɛk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as check?
Check sounds the same as cheque in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.