How to pronounce tack
Say it like TAK. Tack is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- TAK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tack pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of tack
American and British speakers say tack in essentially the same way: /tæk/ in the US and /tæk/ in the UK.
British respelling: TAK.
What does tack mean?
- To nail (something) with a tack (small nail with a flat head).
- To sew/stitch with a tack (loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth).
- To weld with initial small welds to temporarily fasten in preparation for full welding.
- A small nail with a flat head.
- A thumbtack.
- A loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth.
- A stain; a tache.
Where does tack come from?
From Middle English tak, takke (“hook; staple; nail”), from Old Northern French taque (“nail, pin, peg”), from Frankish *takkō (“twig, branch, shoot”), of unknown origin, but possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dHgʰ-n-, from the root *déHgʰ-
Words that rhyme with tack
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tack.
Questions about saying tack
How do you pronounce tack?
Say TAK. The American pronunciation is /tæk/. In British English it is /tæk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tack?
Tack is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TAK.
Do Americans and Brits say tack the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tæk/ and the British form is /tæk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.