How to pronounce stead
Say it like STED. Stead 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 stead. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STED
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stead pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of stead
American and British speakers say stead in essentially the same way: /stɛd/ in the US and /stɛd/ in the UK.
British respelling: STED.
What does stead mean?
- The position or function (of someone or something), as taken on by a successor.
- A place as it relates to a role, service, or ability; capacity.
- A relational or circumstantial position; standing.
- One's partner in a romantic relationship.
Where does stead come from?
Cognate with Scots steid (“location, place”), North Frisian Stair, Stat, steed, stää (“city, town; place, stead”), Saterland Frisian Steede (“place, stead”), Stääd (“city, town”), West Frisian stêd (“city, town”), Bavarian Stådt (“city, tow
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with stead
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of stead.
Questions about saying stead
How do you pronounce stead?
Say STED. The American pronunciation is /stɛd/. In British English it is /stɛd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in stead?
Stead is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STED.
Do Americans and Brits say stead the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /stɛd/ and the British form is /stɛd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.