How to pronounce need
Say it like NEED. Need is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- NEED
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Need pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NEEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of need
American and British speakers say need in essentially the same way: /nid/ in the US and /niːd/ in the UK.
British respelling: NEED.
What does need mean?
- a condition requiring relief“she satisfied his need for affection”“God has no need of men to accomplish His work”
- anything that is necessary but lacking“he had sufficient means to meet his simple needs”“I tried to supply his wants”
- the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior“we did not understand his motivation”“he acted with the best of motives”
- require as useful, just, or proper“It takes nerve to do what she did”“success usually requires hard work”
- have need of“This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner”
- have or feel a need for“always needing friends and money”
Where does need come from?
* Old English nēod (“desire, longing”), from Proto-West Germanic *niudi (“desire, eagerness”), from Proto-Indo-European *new- (“to incline, tend, move, push, nod, wave”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with need
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of need.
Words that sound like need
Questions about saying need
How do you pronounce need?
Say NEED. The American pronunciation is /nid/. In British English it is /niːd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in need?
Need is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NEED.
Do Americans and Brits say need the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /nid/ and the British form is /niːd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as need?
Need sounds the same as knead in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.