How to pronounce gait
Say it like GAYT. Gait 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 gait. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GAYT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Gait pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GAYTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of gait
American and British speakers say gait in essentially the same way: /ɡeɪt/ in the US and /ɡeɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: GAYT.
What does gait mean?
- A manner of walking or stepping; a bearing or carriage while moving on legs.“Carrying a heavy suitcase, he had a lopsided gait.”
- One of the distinct patterns of locomotion exhibited by a horse, occurring either naturally or as a result of training.
- To teach a specific gait to a horse.
Where does gait come from?
From a specialized use of gate (“way, manner, behavior, habit", properly "way, path, street, journey”), from Middle English gate (“way, path, road, street”), from Old Norse gata (“path, lane, alley, road”), from Proto-Germanic *gatwǭ (“passageway, street”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with gait
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of gait.
Words that sound like gait
Questions about saying gait
How do you pronounce gait?
Say GAYT. The American pronunciation is /ɡeɪt/. In British English it is /ɡeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in gait?
Gait is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: GAYT.
Do Americans and Brits say gait the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɡeɪt/ and the British form is /ɡeɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as gait?
Gait sounds the same as gate in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.