How to Pronounce Key

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

key

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

3

Letters

/kiː/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “key”

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

Sounds exactly like: quay, ki, qi, kee — easy to mix up when writing.

What does key mean?

noun

  1. An object designed to open and close a lock.
  2. An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain their relative orientation.

verb

  1. To fit (a lock) with a key.
  2. To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.

adjective

  1. Indispensable, supremely important.

    “He is the key player on his soccer team.”

  2. Important, salient.

    “She makes several key points.”

Hear “key” 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 key

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

freedevoteeseegleescreereparteeapogeesensualitysyncopeespritweightydecree

Related words

winderkilokilogramcentralkgdiscoveroperativedescribe

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "key"?▾

"Key" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "key"?▾

The IPA transcription of "key" is /kiː/.

What does "key" mean?▾

Key: An object designed to open and close a lock.

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