How to pronounce okay
Say it like oh-KAY. Okay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce okay. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- KAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Okay pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- KAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of okay
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: oh-KAY.
What does okay mean?
- being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition“an all-right movie”“the passengers were shaken up but are all right”
- an endorsement“they gave us the O.K. to go ahead”
- give sanction to“I approve of his educational policies”
Where does okay come from?
A respelling of OK.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with okay
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of okay.
Questions about saying okay
How do you pronounce okay?
Say oh-KAY. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊˈkeɪ/. In British English it is /ˌəʊˈkeɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in okay?
Okay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAY). Broken into parts: oh · KAY.
Is okay pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˌəʊˈkeɪ/ (oh-KAY).