How to Pronounce Bait

To pronounce "bait", say BAIT — one syllable, IPA /beɪt/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

bait

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/beɪt/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “bait

"bait" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with elucidate and articulate, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: bate, beit — easy to mix up when writing.

What does bait mean?

noun

  1. Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.
  2. Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.

verb

  1. To attract with bait; to entice.
  2. To affix bait to a trap or a fishing hook or fishing line.

Hear “bait” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with bait

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

Related words

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "bait"?

"Bait" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "bait"?

The IPA transcription of "bait" is /beɪt/.

What does "bait" mean?

Bait: Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.

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