How to pronounce pipe
Say it like PYPE. Pipe is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- PYPE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pipe pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PYPESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of pipe
American and British speakers say pipe in essentially the same way: /paɪp/ in the US and /paɪp/ in the UK.
British respelling: PYPE.
What does pipe mean?
- A wind instrument consisting of a tube, often lined with holes to allow for adjustment in pitch, sounded by blowing into the tube.
- A tube used to produce sound in an organ; an organ pipe.
- The key or sound of the voice.
- To play (music) on a pipe instrument, such as a bagpipe or a flute.
- To shout loudly and at high pitch.
- To emit or have a shrill sound like that of a pipe; to whistle.
Where does pipe come from?
The verb is from Middle English pīpen, pypyn (“to play a pipe; to make a shrill sound; to speak with a high-pitched tone”), from Old English pīpian (“to pipe”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pipe
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pipe.
Questions about saying pipe
How do you pronounce pipe?
Say PYPE. The American pronunciation is /paɪp/. In British English it is /paɪp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pipe?
Pipe is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PYPE.
Do Americans and Brits say pipe the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /paɪp/ and the British form is /paɪp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.