How to pronounce haystack
Say it like HAY-stak. Haystack has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce haystack. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAY
- stak
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Haystack pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- stakGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of haystack
American and British speakers say haystack in essentially the same way: /ˈheɪˌstæk/ in the US and /ˈheɪˌstæk/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAY-stak.
What does haystack mean?
- A mound, pile, or stack of stored hay.
- A standing wave in a rapid.
- The text string within which another string is searched for. (see: needle in a haystack)
Where does haystack come from?
From Middle English haystak, haystake, hey stak, equivalent to hay + stack.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying haystack
How do you pronounce haystack?
Say HAY-stak. The American pronunciation is /ˈheɪˌstæk/. In British English it is /ˈheɪˌstæk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in haystack?
Haystack has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAY). Broken into parts: HAY · stak.
Do Americans and Brits say haystack the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈheɪˌstæk/ and the British form is /ˈheɪˌstæk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.