How to pronounce quake
Say it like KWAYK. Quake 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 quake. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KWAYK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Quake pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KWAYKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of quake
American and British speakers say quake in essentially the same way: /kweɪk/ in the US and /kweɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: KWAYK.
What does quake mean?
- A trembling or shaking.“We felt a quake in the apartment every time the train went by.”
- An earthquake, a trembling of the ground with force.“California is plagued by quakes; there are a few minor ones almost every month.”
- Something devastating, like a strong earthquake.
- To tremble or shake.“I felt the ground quaking beneath my feet.”
- To be in a state of fear, shock, amazement, etc., such as might cause one to tremble.
Where does quake come from?
From Middle English quaken, from Old English cwacian (“to quake, tremble, chatter”), from Proto-Germanic *kwakōną (“to shake, quiver, tremble”), itself likely of imitative origin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with quake
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of quake.
Questions about saying quake
How do you pronounce quake?
Say KWAYK. The American pronunciation is /kweɪk/. In British English it is /kweɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in quake?
Quake is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KWAYK.
Do Americans and Brits say quake the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kweɪk/ and the British form is /kweɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.