How to pronounce pike
Say it like PYKE. Pike 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 pike. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PYKE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pike pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PYKESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of pike
American and British speakers say pike in essentially the same way: /paɪk/ in the US and /paɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: PYKE.
What does pike mean?
- a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic
- highly valued northern freshwater fish with lean flesh
- a sharp point (as on the end of a spear)
Where does pike come from?
The verb sense “to quit or back out of a promise” may be from the sense of taking up pilgrim's staff or pike and leaving on a pilgrimage; and compare Middle English pī̆ken (“to go, remove oneself”) and Old Danish pikke af (“to go away”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- expressway
- freeway
- motorway
Words that rhyme with pike
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pike.
Questions about saying pike
How do you pronounce pike?
Say PYKE. The American pronunciation is /paɪk/. In British English it is /paɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pike?
Pike is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PYKE.
Do Americans and Brits say pike the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /paɪk/ and the British form is /paɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.