How to pronounce hornpipe
Say it like HORN-pype. Hornpipe has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HORN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hornpipe. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HORN
- pype
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hornpipe pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HORNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- pypeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of hornpipe
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HAWN-pype.
What does hornpipe mean?
- A musical instrument consisting of a wooden pipe, with holes at intervals.
- A solo dance commonly associated with seamen, involving kicking of the legs, with the arms mostly crossed.
- A hard-shoe solo dance commonly performed in Irish stepdance, usually danced in 2/4 time.
- To dance the hornpipe.
Where does hornpipe come from?
From Middle English hornpipe, hornpype, hornepipe, equivalent to horn + pipe; so called because the bell at the open end was sometimes made of horn.
Questions about saying hornpipe
How do you pronounce hornpipe?
Say HORN-pype. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɔrnpaɪp/. In British English it is /ˈhɔːnpaɪp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hornpipe?
Hornpipe has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HORN). Broken into parts: HORN · pype.
Is hornpipe pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈhɔːnpaɪp/ (HAWN-pype).