How to pronounce reggae
Say it like REG-ay. Reggae has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (REG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce reggae. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- REG
- ay
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Reggae pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- REGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ayGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of reggae
American and British speakers say reggae in essentially the same way: /ˈrɛˌɡeɪ/ in the US and /ˈrɛˌɡeɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: REG-ay.
What does reggae mean?
- A music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s and is heavily associated with Rastafarianism, featuring a heavy bass line and percussive rhythm guitar on the offbeat, often with close vocal harmonies.
Where does reggae come from?
From Jamaican Creole rege (“rags; a quarrel”), see rag; originally used in the 1960s to describe a Jamaican dance.
Questions about saying reggae
How do you pronounce reggae?
Say REG-ay. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɛˌɡeɪ/. In British English it is /ˈrɛˌɡeɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in reggae?
Reggae has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (REG). Broken into parts: REG · ay.
Do Americans and Brits say reggae the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrɛˌɡeɪ/ and the British form is /ˈrɛˌɡeɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.