How to pronounce spine
Say it like SPYNE. Spine 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 spine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPYNE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPYNESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of spine
American and British speakers say spine in essentially the same way: /spaɪn/ in the US and /spaɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: SPYNE.
What does spine mean?
- the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord“the fall broke his back”
- any sharply pointed projection
- a small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf
Where does spine come from?
From late Middle English spyne, from Old French espine (French épine) or its source, Latin spīna (“a thorn; a prickle, spine; the backbone”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with spine
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of spine.
Questions about saying spine
How do you pronounce spine?
Say SPYNE. The American pronunciation is /spaɪn/. In British English it is /spaɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spine?
Spine is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SPYNE.
Do Americans and Brits say spine the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /spaɪn/ and the British form is /spaɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.