How to pronounce pirate
Say it like PY-rut. Pirate has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pirate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PY
- rut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pirate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- rutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of pirate
American and British speakers say pirate in essentially the same way: /ˈpaɪrət/ in the US and /ˈpaɪrɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: PY-rit.
What does pirate mean?
- someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
- someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without having a commission from any sovereign nation
- a ship that is manned by pirates
- copy illegally; of published material
- take arbitrarily or by force“The Cubans commandeered the plane and flew it to Miami”
Questions about saying pirate
How do you pronounce pirate?
Say PY-rut. The American pronunciation is /ˈpaɪrət/. In British English it is /ˈpaɪrɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pirate?
Pirate has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PY). Broken into parts: PY · rut.
Do Americans and Brits say pirate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpaɪrət/ and the British form is /ˈpaɪrɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.