How to pronounce quite
Say it like KWYTE. Quite 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 quite. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KWYTE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Quite pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KWYTESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of quite
American and British speakers say quite in essentially the same way: /kwaɪt/ in the US and /kwaɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: KWYTE.
What does quite mean?
- to a degree (not used with a negative)“quite tasty”“quite soon”
- to the greatest extent; completely“you're quite right”“she was quite alone”
- of an unusually noticeable or exceptional or remarkable kind (not used with a negative)“her victory was quite something”“she's quite a girl”
Where does quite come from?
A development of quit, influence by Anglo-Norman quite.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with quite
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of quite.
Questions about saying quite
How do you pronounce quite?
Say KWYTE. The American pronunciation is /kwaɪt/. In British English it is /kwaɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in quite?
Quite is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KWYTE.
Do Americans and Brits say quite the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kwaɪt/ and the British form is /kwaɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.