How to pronounce kiai
Say it like kee-EYE. Kiai has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EYE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kiai. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kee
- EYE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kiai pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- keeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- EYESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of kiai
American and British speakers say kiai in essentially the same way: /kiˈaɪ/ in the US and /kiˈaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: kee-EYE.
What does kiai mean?
- The short yell or shout uttered when performing an attacking move in martial arts.
Words that rhyme with kiai
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kiai.
Questions about saying kiai
How do you pronounce kiai?
Say kee-EYE. The American pronunciation is /kiˈaɪ/. In British English it is /kiˈaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kiai?
Kiai has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EYE). Broken into parts: kee · EYE.
Do Americans and Brits say kiai the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kiˈaɪ/ and the British form is /kiˈaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.