How to pronounce paid
Say it like PAYD. Paid is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce paid. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAYD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Paid pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PAYDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of paid
American and British speakers say paid in essentially the same way: /peɪd/ in the US and /peɪd/ in the UK.
British respelling: PAYD.
What does paid mean?
- marked by the reception of pay“paid work”“a paid official”
- involving gainful employment in something often done as a hobby
- yielding a fair profit
Where does paid come from?
From pay + -ed.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with paid
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of paid.
Questions about saying paid
How do you pronounce paid?
Say PAYD. The American pronunciation is /peɪd/. In British English it is /peɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in paid?
Paid is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PAYD.
Do Americans and Brits say paid the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /peɪd/ and the British form is /peɪd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.