How to pronounce unique
Say it like yoo-NEEK. Unique has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NEEK).
- yoo
- NEEK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unique pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- NEEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of unique
American and British speakers say unique in essentially the same way: /juˈnik/ in the US and /juːˈniːk/ in the UK.
British respelling: yoo-NEEK.
What does unique mean?
- Being the only one of its kind; unequaled, unparalleled or unmatched.“Every person has a unique life, therefore every person has a unique journey.”
- Of a feature, such that only one holder has it.
- Particular, characteristic.
- A thing without a like; something unequalled or unparallelled; one of a kind.
Where does unique come from?
Borrowed from French unique, from Latin unicus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with unique
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unique.
Questions about saying unique
How do you pronounce unique?
Say yoo-NEEK. The American pronunciation is /juˈnik/. In British English it is /juːˈniːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unique?
Unique has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NEEK). Broken into parts: yoo · NEEK.
Do Americans and Brits say unique the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /juˈnik/ and the British form is /juːˈniːk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.