How to pronounce turnpike
Say it like TURN-pyke. Turnpike has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TURN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce turnpike. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TURN
- pyke
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Turnpike pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TURNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- pykeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of turnpike
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: TURN-pyke.
What does turnpike mean?
- A frame consisting of two bars crossing each other at right angles and turning on a post or pin, to hinder the passage of animals, but admitting a person to pass between the arms.
- A gate or bar set across a road to stop carriages, animals, and sometimes people, until a toll is paid.
- A winding stairway.
- To form (a road, etc.) in the manner of a turnpike road, or into a rounded form, as the path of a road.
Where does turnpike come from?
From Middle English turnpyke (“spiked barrier across a road”), originally used to block access to such a road until a toll was paid.
Questions about saying turnpike
How do you pronounce turnpike?
Say TURN-pyke. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɝnˌpaɪk/. In British English it is /ˈtɜːnˌpaɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in turnpike?
Turnpike has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TURN). Broken into parts: TURN · pyke.
Is turnpike pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈtɜːnˌpaɪk/ (TURN-pyke).