How to Pronounce Chief

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

chief

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Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

/tʃiːf/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “chief”

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

What does chief mean?

noun

  1. A leader or head of a group of people, organisation, etc.

    “All firefighters report to the fire chief.”

  2. The top part of a shield or escutcheon; more specifically, an ordinary consisting of the upper part of the field cut off by a horizontal line, generally occupying the top third.

verb

  1. To smoke cannabis.

adjective

  1. Primary; principal.

    “Negligence was the chief cause of the disaster.”

  2. Intimate, friendly.

Hear “chief” 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 chief

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

griefmotifbriefbeliefreliefliefdisbeliefbeefreefsheafleitmotiffief

Related words

honchobossforemanprincipalmainprimaryimportanttop

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "chief"?▾

"Chief" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "chief"?▾

The IPA transcription of "chief" is /tʃiːf/.

What does "chief" mean?▾

Chief: A leader or head of a group of people, organisation, etc.

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