How to pronounce “opaque”
Opaque is pronounced /oʊˈpeɪk/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the second one — peɪk. 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 2 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting peɪk in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern oO — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“opaque” sound by sound
“opaque” is built out of 4 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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oʊStart with mid-back, lightly rounded lips and glide toward /ʊ/, tightening the rounding as you finish.
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pPress both lips together, build up air behind them, then release with a puff of air (aspiration) when the sound starts a stressed syllable.
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eɪStart at the /e/ position and glide upward and forward toward /ɪ/ — the jaw closes as you say it.
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kRaise the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate, seal the air, then release it with a puff.
Silent letters in “opaque”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- uThe letter “u”Silent “u” after “g”/“q” — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “opaque”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Questions people ask about “opaque”
- How do you pronounce “opaque”?
- “opaque” is pronounced /oʊˈpeɪk/, with the stress on the second syllable (peɪk). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “opaque”?
- “opaque” has 2 syllables: oʊ · peɪk. The stress pattern is oO.
- Does “opaque” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent “u” after “g”/“q”.
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