How to pronounce fake
Say it like FAYK. Fake 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 fake. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FAYK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fake pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FAYKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of fake
American and British speakers say fake in essentially the same way: /feɪk/ in the US and /feɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: FAYK.
What does fake mean?
- something that is a counterfeit; not what it seems to be
- a person who makes deceitful pretenses
- (football) a deceptive move made by a football player
- make a copy of with the intent to deceive“he faked the signature”“they counterfeited dollar bills”
- tamper, with the purpose of deception“Fudge the figures”“cook the books”
- speak insincerely or without regard for facts or truths“The politician was not well prepared for the debate and faked it”
- fraudulent; having a misleading appearance
- not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article“it isn't fake anything; it's real synthetic fur”“faux pearls”
Where does fake come from?
Akin to Dutch veeg (“a swipe”), Dutch vegen (“to sweep, wipe”); German fegen (“to sweep, to polish”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with fake
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of fake.
Questions about saying fake
How do you pronounce fake?
Say FAYK. The American pronunciation is /feɪk/. In British English it is /feɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fake?
Fake is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FAYK.
Do Americans and Brits say fake the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /feɪk/ and the British form is /feɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.