How to pronounce pique
Say it like PEEK. Pique 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 pique. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PEEK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pique pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PEEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of pique
American and British speakers say pique in essentially the same way: /pik/ in the US and /piːk/ in the UK.
British respelling: PEEK.
What does pique mean?
- Enmity, ill feeling; (countable) a feeling of animosity or a dispute.
- Irritation or resentment awakened by a social injury or slight; offense, especially taken in an emotional sense with little consideration or thought; (countable) especially in fit of pique: a transient feeling of wounded pride.
- In piquet, the right of the elder hand to count thirty in hand, or to play before the adversary counts one.
- To wound the pride of (someone); to excite to anger; to irritate, to offend.
- To excite (someone) to action, especially by causing jealousy, resentment, etc.; also, to stimulate (an emotion or feeling, especially curiosity or interest).“I believe this will pique your interest.”
- To pride (oneself) on something.
Where does pique come from?
The noun is borrowed from Middle French pique (“a quarrel; resentment”) (modern French pique), from piquer, picquer (verb); see above.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pique
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pique.
Words that sound like pique
Questions about saying pique
How do you pronounce pique?
Say PEEK. The American pronunciation is /pik/. In British English it is /piːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pique?
Pique is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PEEK.
Do Americans and Brits say pique the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pik/ and the British form is /piːk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as pique?
Pique sounds the same as peak, peek in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.