How to Pronounce Keys

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

keys

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/kiːz/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “keys”

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

Sounds exactly like: keas, kees, keese, keyes — easy to mix up when writing.

What does keys 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.

noun

  1. One of a string of small islands.

    “the Florida Keys”

Hear “keys” 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 keys

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

seizeappeaseexpertiseuneaserepriseeasewheezesqueezeteasechemisecheesebreeze

Related words

winderkilokilogramcentralkgdiscoveroperativedescribe

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "keys"?▾

"Keys" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "keys"?▾

The IPA transcription of "keys" is /kiːz/.

What does "keys" mean?▾

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

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