How to pronounce jack
Say it like JAK. Jack 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 jack. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JAK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Jack pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of jack
American and British speakers say jack in essentially the same way: /dʒæk/ in the US and /dʒæk/ in the UK.
British respelling: JAK.
What does jack mean?
- a small worthless amount“you don't know jack”
- a man who serves as a sailor
- someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor
- lift with a special device“jack up the car so you can change the tire”
- hunt with a jacklight
Where does jack come from?
Inherited from Middle English jakke, from Anglo-Norman jacke, Middle French jaque, jacque, from jacques (“peasant”), from the proper name Jacques.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with jack
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of jack.
Questions about saying jack
How do you pronounce jack?
Say JAK. The American pronunciation is /dʒæk/. In British English it is /dʒæk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in jack?
Jack is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: JAK.
Do Americans and Brits say jack the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dʒæk/ and the British form is /dʒæk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.