How to pronounce ki
Say it like KEE. Ki 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 ki. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KEE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ki 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 ki
American and British speakers say ki in essentially the same way: /ki/ in the US and /kiː/ in the UK.
British respelling: KEE.
What does ki mean?
- the circulating life energy that in Chinese philosophy is thought to be inherent in all things; in traditional Chinese medicine the balance of negative and positive forms in the body is believed to be essential for good health
- goddess personifying earth; counterpart of Akkadian Aruru
Where does ki come from?
Borrowed from Hawaiian kī.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with ki
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ki.
Words that sound like ki
Questions about saying ki
How do you pronounce ki?
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 ki?
Ki is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KEE.
Do Americans and Brits say ki 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 ki?
Ki sounds the same as kea, key, qi, quay in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.