How to pronounce spirit
Say it like SPIR-ut. Spirit has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce spirit. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPIR
- ut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spirit pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- utKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of spirit
American and British speakers say spirit in essentially the same way: /ˈspɪrət/ in the US and /ˈspɪrɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SPIR-it.
What does spirit mean?
- the vital principle or animating force within living things
- the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people“the feel of the city excited him”“a clergyman improved the tone of the meeting”
- a fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one's character
- infuse with spirit“The company spirited him up”
Where does spirit come from?
From Middle English spirit, from Old French espirit (“spirit”), from Latin spīritus (“breath; spirit”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peys- (“to blow, breathe”).
Questions about saying spirit
How do you pronounce spirit?
Say SPIR-ut. The American pronunciation is /ˈspɪrət/. In British English it is /ˈspɪrɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spirit?
Spirit has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPIR). Broken into parts: SPIR · ut.
Do Americans and Brits say spirit the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈspɪrət/ and the British form is /ˈspɪrɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.