How to pronounce mistake
Say it like mih-STAYK. Mistake has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STAYK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mistake. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- mih
- STAYK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mistake pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- mihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- STAYKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of mistake
American and British speakers say mistake in essentially the same way: /mɪˈsteɪk/ in the US and /mɪˈsteɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: mih-STAYK.
What does mistake mean?
- a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention“he made a bad mistake”“she was quick to point out my errors”
- an understanding of something that is not correct“he wasn't going to admit his mistake”“make no mistake about his intentions”
- part of a statement that is not correct“the book was full of errors”
- identify incorrectly“Don't mistake her for her twin sister”
- to make a mistake or be incorrect
Where does mistake come from?
The noun, which replaced earlier mistaking, is derived from the verb.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with mistake
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mistake.
Questions about saying mistake
How do you pronounce mistake?
Say mih-STAYK. The American pronunciation is /mɪˈsteɪk/. In British English it is /mɪˈsteɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mistake?
Mistake has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STAYK). Broken into parts: mih · STAYK.
Do Americans and Brits say mistake the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /mɪˈsteɪk/ and the British form is /mɪˈsteɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.