How to pronounce spike
Say it like SPYKE. Spike 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 spike. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPYKE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spike pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPYKESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of spike
American and British speakers say spike in essentially the same way: /spaɪk/ in the US and /spaɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: SPYKE.
What does spike mean?
- a transient variation in voltage or current
- sports equipment consisting of a sharp point on the sole of a shoe worn by athletes“spikes provide greater traction”
- fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn
- stand in the way of
- pierce with a sharp stake or point“impale a shrimp on a skewer”
- secure with spikes
Where does spike come from?
From Middle English spike, spyke, spik, from Old Norse spík (“spike, sprig”), from Proto-Germanic *spīkō (“stick, splinter, point”), from Proto-Indo-European *spey- (“to be pointed; sharp point, stick”).
Words that rhyme with spike
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of spike.
Questions about saying spike
How do you pronounce spike?
Say SPYKE. The American pronunciation is /spaɪk/. In British English it is /spaɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spike?
Spike is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SPYKE.
Do Americans and Brits say spike the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /spaɪk/ and the British form is /spaɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.