How to Pronounce Okay

To pronounce "okay", say OK-ay — 2 syllables, IPA /ˌəˈkæɪ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

okay

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

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Syllables

Letters

/ˌəˈkæɪ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “okay”

"okay" has 2 syllables: ok-ay. It rhymes with convey and display, if that helps it stick.

What does okay mean?

noun

Endorsement; approval.
“We can start as soon as we get the OK.”

verb

To approve.
“I don't want to OK this amount of money.”
To confirm by activating a button marked OK.

adjective

All right, permitted.
“Do you think it's OK to stay here for the night?”
Satisfactory, reasonably good; not exceptional.
“The soup was OK, but the dessert was excellent.”

Synonyms

approval endorsement go-ahead green light thumbs up approve greenlight all right allowed permissible

Antonyms

forbidden ill poorly sick under the weather unwell

Hear “okay” 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 okay

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

convey display dismay sobriquet disarray allay gay decay play portray cache fray

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "okay"?▾

"Okay" has 2 syllables: ok · ay.

What is the IPA transcription of "okay"?▾

The IPA transcription of "okay" is /ˌəˈkæɪ/.

What does "okay" mean?▾

Okay: Endorsement; approval.

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