How to pronounce engage
Say it like en-GAYJ. Engage has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GAYJ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce engage. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- en
- GAYJ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Engage pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- enKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- GAYJSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of engage
American and British speakers say engage in essentially the same way: /ɛnˈɡeɪdʒ/ in the US and /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-GAYJ.
What does engage mean?
- carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in“She pursued many activities”“They engaged in a discussion”
- consume all of one's attention or time“Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely”
- engage or hire for work“They hired two new secretaries in the department”“How many people has she employed?”
Where does engage come from?
From Middle English engagen, from Old French engagier (“to pledge, engage”), from Old French en- (“in, under”) + gage (“pledge”), from Frankish *wadi (“pledge”), from Proto-Germanic *wadją (“pledge, guarantee”), from Proto-Indo-European *we
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with engage
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of engage.
Questions about saying engage
How do you pronounce engage?
Say en-GAYJ. The American pronunciation is /ɛnˈɡeɪdʒ/. In British English it is /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in engage?
Engage has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GAYJ). Broken into parts: en · GAYJ.
Do Americans and Brits say engage the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɛnˈɡeɪdʒ/ and the British form is /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.