How to pronounce opaque
Say it like oh-PAYK. Opaque has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAYK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce opaque. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- PAYK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Opaque pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- PAYKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of opaque
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: oh-PAYK.
What does opaque mean?
- Neither reflecting nor emitting light.
- Allowing little light to pass through, not translucent or transparent.
- Unclear, unintelligible, hard to get or explain the meaning of.
- Something which is opaque rather than translucent.
- To make, render (more) opaque.
Where does opaque come from?
From Middle English opake, from Latin opacus (“shaded, shady, dark”) (of unknown origin), later reinforced from Middle French opaque.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with opaque
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of opaque.
Questions about saying opaque
How do you pronounce opaque?
Say oh-PAYK. The American pronunciation is /oʊˈpeɪk/. In British English it is /əʊˈpeɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in opaque?
Opaque has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAYK). Broken into parts: oh · PAYK.
Is opaque 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 /əʊˈpeɪk/ (oh-PAYK).