How to pronounce kingpin
Say it like KING-pin. Kingpin has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KING).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kingpin. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KING
- pin
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kingpin pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KINGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- pinGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of kingpin
American and British speakers say kingpin in essentially the same way: /ˈkɪŋˌpɪn/ in the US and /ˈkɪŋˌpɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: KING-pin.
What does kingpin mean?
- The axis around which steered wheels pivot; a bolt that holds the axis in place.
- The pivot or connector between a tractor and trailer in the fifth-wheel coupling of semi-trailer truck.
- The most important person in a usually evil undertaking or organization, often a druglord.
Where does kingpin come from?
From king + pin.
Questions about saying kingpin
How do you pronounce kingpin?
Say KING-pin. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɪŋˌpɪn/. In British English it is /ˈkɪŋˌpɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kingpin?
Kingpin has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KING). Broken into parts: KING · pin.
Do Americans and Brits say kingpin the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkɪŋˌpɪn/ and the British form is /ˈkɪŋˌpɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.