How to pronounce kept
Say it like KEPT. Kept 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 kept. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KEPT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kept pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KEPTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of kept
American and British speakers say kept in essentially the same way: /kɛpt/ in the US and /kɛpt/ in the UK.
British respelling: KEPT.
Other ways to say kept
Kept also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- KAPT /kæpt/
What does kept mean?
- (especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded“unbroken promises”“promises kept”
Where does kept come from?
From Middle English kept, kepte, from Old English cēpte; see -t.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with kept
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kept.
Questions about saying kept
How do you pronounce kept?
Say KEPT. The American pronunciation is /kɛpt/. In British English it is /kɛpt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kept?
Kept is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KEPT.
Do Americans and Brits say kept the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kɛpt/ and the British form is /kɛpt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.