How to pronounce compete
Say it like kum-PEET. Compete has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PEET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce compete. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kum
- PEET
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Compete pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PEETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of compete
American and British speakers say compete in essentially the same way: /kəmˈpit/ in the US and /kəmˈpiːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: kum-PEET.
What does compete mean?
- compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
Where does compete come from?
Borrowed from Middle French competer, from Latin competere (“to coincide, to be equal to, to be capable of”), from com- (“with”) + petō (“to seek; to aim for, strive for”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with compete
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of compete.
Questions about saying compete
How do you pronounce compete?
Say kum-PEET. The American pronunciation is /kəmˈpit/. In British English it is /kəmˈpiːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in compete?
Compete has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PEET). Broken into parts: kum · PEET.
Do Americans and Brits say compete the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəmˈpit/ and the British form is /kəmˈpiːt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.