How to pronounce kayak
Say it like KY-ak. Kayak has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kayak. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KY
- ak
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kayak pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- akKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of kayak
American and British speakers say kayak in essentially the same way: /ˈkaɪæk/ in the US and /ˈkaɪæk/ in the UK.
British respelling: KY-ak.
What does kayak mean?
- A type of small boat, covered over by a surface deck, powered by the occupant or occupants using a double-bladed paddle in a sitting position, from a hole in the surface deck.
- To use a kayak, to travel or race in a kayak.“Kayaking is an Olympic sport.”
- To traverse (a body of water) by kayak.“On a dare, he kayaked the Harlem River in New York from Hell's Gate to Spyten Duyvil.”
Where does kayak come from?
Borrowed from Inuktitut ᖃᔭᖅ (qayaq, “hunter's boat”) (Inuvialuktun), from Proto-Eskimo *qayaʁ.
Questions about saying kayak
How do you pronounce kayak?
Say KY-ak. The American pronunciation is /ˈkaɪæk/. In British English it is /ˈkaɪæk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kayak?
Kayak has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KY). Broken into parts: KY · ak.
Do Americans and Brits say kayak the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkaɪæk/ and the British form is /ˈkaɪæk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.