How to pronounce eighteen
Say it like ay-TEEN. Eighteen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce eighteen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ay
- TEEN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Eighteen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ayKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- TEENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of eighteen
American and British speakers say eighteen in essentially the same way: /eɪˈtin/ in the US and /eɪˈtiːn/ in the UK.
British respelling: ay-TEEN.
Other ways to say eighteen
Eighteen also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- AY-TEEN /ˈeɪˈtin/
What does eighteen mean?
- being one more than seventeen
- the cardinal number that is the sum of seventeen and one
Where does eighteen come from?
Equivalent to eight + -teen.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- xviii
Words that rhyme with eighteen
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of eighteen.
Questions about saying eighteen
How do you pronounce eighteen?
Say ay-TEEN. The American pronunciation is /eɪˈtin/. In British English it is /eɪˈtiːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in eighteen?
Eighteen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEEN). Broken into parts: ay · TEEN.
Do Americans and Brits say eighteen the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /eɪˈtin/ and the British form is /eɪˈtiːn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.