How to pronounce secret
Say it like SEE-krut. Secret has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce secret. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEE
- krut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Secret pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- krutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of secret
American and British speakers say secret in essentially the same way: /ˈsikrət/ in the US and /ˈsiːkrɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SEE-krit.
What does secret mean?
- not open or public; kept private or not revealed“a secret formula”“secret ingredients”
- conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods“clandestine intelligence operations”“cloak-and-dagger activities behind enemy lines”
- not openly made known“a secret marriage”“a secret bride”
- something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)“the combination to the safe was a secret”“he tried to keep his drinking a secret”
- information known only to a special group“the secret of Cajun cooking”
- something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained“how it got out is a mystery”“it remains one of nature's secrets”
Where does secret come from?
The verb is from the noun.
Questions about saying secret
How do you pronounce secret?
Say SEE-krut. The American pronunciation is /ˈsikrət/. In British English it is /ˈsiːkrɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in secret?
Secret has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEE). Broken into parts: SEE · krut.
Do Americans and Brits say secret the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsikrət/ and the British form is /ˈsiːkrɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.