How to pronounce kayfabe
Say it like KAY-fayb. Kayfabe has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kayfabe. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAY
- fayb
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kayfabe pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- faybGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of kayfabe
American and British speakers say kayfabe in essentially the same way: /ˈkeɪˌfeɪb/ in the US and /ˈkeɪfeɪb/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAY-fayb.
What does kayfabe mean?
- The act, situation, or code of portraying staged events, performances, rivalries, etc as authentic or spontaneous.
- Similar fakery or suspension of disbelief in other contexts.
- Of or related to kayfabe, especially forbidden to mention or show in order to maintain kayfabe.
- To maintain kayfabe, to deceive by staying in character.
Where does kayfabe come from?
Unknown, but attributed to US carnival slang (carny), usually as a purposefully obscure variant of the admonition “be fake” formed through backslang or mangled pig Latin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying kayfabe
How do you pronounce kayfabe?
Say KAY-fayb. The American pronunciation is /ˈkeɪˌfeɪb/. In British English it is /ˈkeɪfeɪb/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kayfabe?
Kayfabe has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAY). Broken into parts: KAY · fayb.
Do Americans and Brits say kayfabe the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkeɪˌfeɪb/ and the British form is /ˈkeɪfeɪb/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.