How to pronounce key
Say it like KEE. Key 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 key. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KEE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Key pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of key
American and British speakers say key in essentially the same way: /ki/ in the US and /kiː/ in the UK.
British respelling: KEE.
What does key mean?
- metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
- something crucial for explaining“the key to development is economic integration”
- pitch of the voice“he spoke in a low key”
- identify as in botany or biology, for example
- provide with a key“We were keyed after the locks were changed in the building”
- vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key“His new Mercedes was keyed last night in the parking lot”
- serving as an essential component“a cardinal rule”“the central cause of the problem”
Where does key come from?
For the semantic development, note that medieval keys were simply long poles (ending in a hook) with which a crossbar obstructing a door from the inside could be removed from the outside, by lifting it through a hole in the door.
Words that rhyme with key
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of key.
Words that sound like key
Questions about saying key
How do you pronounce key?
Say KEE. The American pronunciation is /ki/. In British English it is /kiː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in key?
Key is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KEE.
Do Americans and Brits say key the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ki/ and the British form is /kiː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as key?
Key sounds the same as kea, ki, qi, quay in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.