How to pronounce wide
Say it like WYDE. Wide 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 wide. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WYDE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wide pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WYDESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of wide
American and British speakers say wide in essentially the same way: /waɪd/ in the US and /waɪd/ in the UK.
British respelling: WYDE.
What does wide mean?
- having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other“wide roads”“a wide necktie”
- broad in scope or content“across-the-board pay increases”“an all-embracing definition”
- (used of eyes) fully open or extended“stared with wide eyes”
- with or by a broad space“stand with legs wide apart”“ran wide around left end”
- to the fullest extent possible“open your eyes wide”“with the throttle wide open”
- far from the intended target“the arrow went wide of the mark”“a bullet went astray and killed a bystander”
Where does wide come from?
Cognate with North Frisian widj (“wide”), Saterland Frisian wied (“wide”), West Frisian wiid (“broad; wide”), Central Franconian weck, weit, wick, wiet (“distant, far, wide”), Dutch wijd (“wide; large; broad”), German weit (“far; wide; broa
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with wide
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wide.
Words that sound like wide
- why'd
Questions about saying wide
How do you pronounce wide?
Say WYDE. The American pronunciation is /waɪd/. In British English it is /waɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wide?
Wide is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WYDE.
Do Americans and Brits say wide the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /waɪd/ and the British form is /waɪd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as wide?
Wide sounds the same as why'd in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.