How to pronounce file
Say it like FYLE. File 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 file. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FYLE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
File pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FYLESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of file
American and British speakers say file in essentially the same way: /faɪl/ in the US and /faɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: FYLE.
What does file mean?
- record in a public office or in a court of law“file for divorce”“file a complaint”
- smooth with a file“file one's fingernails”
- proceed in line“The students filed into the classroom”
- a set of related records (either written or electronic) kept together
- a line of persons or things ranged one behind the other
- office furniture consisting of a container for keeping papers in order
Where does file come from?
From Old French fil (“thread”), from Latin fīlum (“thread”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with file
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of file.
Questions about saying file
How do you pronounce file?
Say FYLE. The American pronunciation is /faɪl/. In British English it is /faɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in file?
File is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FYLE.
Do Americans and Brits say file the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /faɪl/ and the British form is /faɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.