How to pronounce senpai
Say it like SEN-py. Senpai has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce senpai. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEN
- py
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Senpai pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- pyKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of senpai
American and British speakers say senpai in essentially the same way: /ˈsɛnpaɪ/ in the US and /ˈsɛnpaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SEN-py.
What does senpai mean?
- The senior member of a group in Japanese arts; a mentor.
- An upperclassman or elder student, in the context of Japan.
Questions about saying senpai
How do you pronounce senpai?
Say SEN-py. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛnpaɪ/. In British English it is /ˈsɛnpaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in senpai?
Senpai has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEN). Broken into parts: SEN · py.
Do Americans and Brits say senpai the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɛnpaɪ/ and the British form is /ˈsɛnpaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.