How to Pronounce Thief

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

thief

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

/θiːf/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “thief”

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

What does thief mean?

noun

  1. One who carries out a theft.
  2. One who steals another person's property, especially by stealth and without using force or violence.

Hear “thief” 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 thief

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

griefmotifbriefbeliefreliefliefdisbeliefbeefreefsheafleitmotiffief

Related words

theftthievingpilfererpickpocketrobberyrobbermuggerburglar

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "thief"?▾

"Thief" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "thief"?▾

The IPA transcription of "thief" is /θiːf/.

What does "thief" mean?▾

Thief: One who carries out a theft.

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