How to pronounce “high”
High is pronounced /ˈhaɪ/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“high” sound by sound
“high” is built out of 2 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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hSimply breathe out through an open, relaxed mouth already shaped for the following vowel — there is no tongue or lip contact at all.
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aɪStart with the mouth open at an /a/-like position and glide up toward /ɪ/, closing the jaw as you go.
Silent letters in “high”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- ghThe letter “gh”Silent “gh” — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “high”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “high”
Each of these differs from “high” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “high”
- How do you pronounce “high”?
- “high” is pronounced /ˈhaɪ/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “high”?
- “high” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- Does “high” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent “gh”.
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