How to pronounce keep
Say it like KEEP. Keep is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
VoiceSpeed
US American/kip/KEEP
UK British/kiːp/KEEP
- KEEP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Keep pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KEEPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of keep
American and British speakers say keep in essentially the same way: /kip/ in the US and /kiːp/ in the UK.
British respelling: KEEP.
What does keep mean?
verb
- cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., `keep clean'“hold in place”“She always held herself as a lady”
- continue a certain state, condition, or activity“Keep on working!”“We continued to work into the night”
- retain possession of“Can I keep my old stuffed animals?”“She kept her maiden name after she married”
- the financial means whereby one lives“each child was expected to pay for their keep”“he applied to the state for support”
- the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
- a cell in a jail or prison
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with keep
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of keep.
Questions about saying keep
How do you pronounce keep?
Say KEEP. The American pronunciation is /kip/. In British English it is /kiːp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in keep?
Keep is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KEEP.
Do Americans and Brits say keep the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kip/ and the British form is /kiːp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.