How to pronounce sneak
Say it like SNEEK. Sneak 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 sneak. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SNEEK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sneak pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SNEEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of sneak
American and British speakers say sneak in essentially the same way: /snik/ in the US and /sniːk/ in the UK.
British respelling: SNEEK.
What does sneak mean?
- to go stealthily or furtively“..stead of sneaking around spying on the neighbor's house”
- put, bring, or take in a secretive or furtive manner“sneak a look”“sneak a cigarette”
- make off with belongings of others
- a person who is regarded as underhanded and furtive and contemptible
- someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions
- someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
- marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed“a furtive manner”“a sneak attack”
Where does sneak come from?
Possibly from Middle English sniken (“to creep, crawl”), from Old English snīcan (“to creep, crawl”), from Proto-West Germanic *snīkan, from Proto-Germanic *snīkaną (“to creep, crawl”), of sound-symbolic origin; compare formally unrelated s
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with sneak
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sneak.
Questions about saying sneak
How do you pronounce sneak?
Say SNEEK. The American pronunciation is /snik/. In British English it is /sniːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sneak?
Sneak is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SNEEK.
Do Americans and Brits say sneak the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /snik/ and the British form is /sniːk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.