How to pronounce twist
Say it like TWIST. Twist 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 twist. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TWIST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Twist pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TWISTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of twist
American and British speakers say twist in essentially the same way: /twɪst/ in the US and /twɪst/ in the UK.
British respelling: TWIST.
What does twist mean?
- to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)“The prisoner writhed in discomfort”“The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace”
- cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form“bend the rod”“twist the dough into a braid”
- turn in the opposite direction“twist one's head”
- an unforeseen development“events suddenly took an awkward turn”
- an interpretation of a text or action“they put an unsympathetic construction on his conduct”
- any clever maneuver“he would stoop to any device to win a point”“it was a great sales gimmick”
Where does twist come from?
The verb is from Middle English twisten.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with twist
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of twist.
Questions about saying twist
How do you pronounce twist?
Say TWIST. The American pronunciation is /twɪst/. In British English it is /twɪst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in twist?
Twist is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TWIST.
Do Americans and Brits say twist the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /twɪst/ and the British form is /twɪst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.