How to pronounce habit
Say it like HAB-ut. Habit has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce habit. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAB
- ut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Habit pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HABSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- utKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of habit
American and British speakers say habit in essentially the same way: /ˈhæbət/ in the US and /ˈhæbɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAB-it.
What does habit mean?
- an established custom“it was their habit to dine at 7 every evening”
- (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition“owls have nocturnal habits”“she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair”
- a distinctive attire worn by a member of a religious order
- put a habit on
Where does habit come from?
From Middle English habit, from Latin habitus (“condition, bearing, state, appearance, dress, attire”), from habeō (“to have, hold, keep”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with habit
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of habit.
Questions about saying habit
How do you pronounce habit?
Say HAB-ut. The American pronunciation is /ˈhæbət/. In British English it is /ˈhæbɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in habit?
Habit has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAB). Broken into parts: HAB · ut.
Do Americans and Brits say habit the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhæbət/ and the British form is /ˈhæbɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.