How to pronounce spade
Say it like SPAYD. Spade 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 spade. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPAYD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spade pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPAYDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of spade
American and British speakers say spade in essentially the same way: /speɪd/ in the US and /speɪd/ in the UK.
British respelling: SPAYD.
What does spade mean?
- A garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging. Not to be confused with a shovel which is used for moving earth or other materials.
- A cutting instrument used in flensing a whale.
- A device for terminating an electrical conductor resembling a small spade.
- A playing card marked with the symbol ♠.“I've got only one spade in my hand.”
- To turn over soil with a spade to loosen the ground for planting.
- To move with a spade, or as with a spade.
Where does spade come from?
From Middle English spade, from Old English spada, spade, spadu (“spade”), from Proto-Germanic *spadô.
Words that rhyme with spade
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of spade.
Words that sound like spade
Questions about saying spade
How do you pronounce spade?
Say SPAYD. The American pronunciation is /speɪd/. In British English it is /speɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spade?
Spade is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SPAYD.
Do Americans and Brits say spade the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /speɪd/ and the British form is /speɪd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as spade?
Spade sounds the same as spayed in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.