How to pronounce safe
Say it like SAYF. Safe 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 safe. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SAYF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Safe pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SAYFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of safe
American and British speakers say safe in essentially the same way: /seɪf/ in the US and /seɪf/ in the UK.
British respelling: SAYF.
What does safe mean?
- free from danger or the risk of harm“a safe trip”“you will be safe here”
- (of an undertaking) secure from risk
- having reached a base without being put out“the runner was called safe when the baseman dropped the ball”
- strongbox where valuables can be safely kept
- a ventilated or refrigerated cupboard for securing provisions from pests
Where does safe come from?
Displaced Old English sicor (“secure, sure”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with safe
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of safe.
Questions about saying safe
How do you pronounce safe?
Say SAYF. The American pronunciation is /seɪf/. In British English it is /seɪf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in safe?
Safe is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SAYF.
Do Americans and Brits say safe the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /seɪf/ and the British form is /seɪf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.