How to Pronounce Captain

To pronounce "captain", say CAPT-ain — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈkæptən/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

captain

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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2

Syllables

7

Letters

/ˈkæptən/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/kˈæptɪn/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “captain”

Break "captain" into 2 beats and lean on "CAPT" — that's the stressed one.

What does captain mean?

noun

  1. A chief or leader.
  2. The person lawfully in command of a ship or other vessel.

verb

  1. To act as captain
  2. To exercise command of a ship, aircraft or sports team.

Keep practicing

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Sounds worth drilling for a word spelled like this:

/ə/ — schwa/eɪ/ — ay/æ/ — short a

Read next: Long and Short Vowel Sounds in English

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "captain"?▾

To pronounce "captain", say CAPT-ain — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈkæptən/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

How many syllables are in "captain"?▾

"Captain" has 2 syllables: capt · ain.

What is the IPA transcription of "captain"?▾

The IPA transcription of "captain" is /ˈkæptən/.

What does "captain" mean?▾

Captain: A chief or leader.

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