How to pronounce nuke
Say it like NOOK. Nuke is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nuke. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/nuk/NOOK
UK British/njuːk/NYOOK
- NOOK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nuke pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NOOKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of nuke
- British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune).
British respelling: NYOOK.
What does nuke mean?
noun
- A nuclear weapon.
- Something that destroys or negates, especially on a catastrophic scale.
- A nuclear power station.
- Alternative spelling of nuc (“nucleus colony of bees”).
- To use a nuclear weapon on (a target).“If a nuclear war ever breaks out, military facilities are likely to be nuked first.”
- To destroy or erase completely.“He had his posts nuked from the Google archives.”
- To expose to some form of radiation.
Where does nuke come from?
Clipping of nuclear weapon.
Words that rhyme with nuke
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nuke.
Questions about saying nuke
How do you pronounce nuke?
Say NOOK. The American pronunciation is /nuk/. In British English it is /njuːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nuke?
Nuke is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NOOK.
Is nuke pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune). The British form is /njuːk/ (NYOOK).