How to pronounce "keep"

keep

Sports & Recreation
American
/kiːp/

Syllable Breakdown

keep

How natives say keep

British
/kiːp/

Syllable Breakdown

keep

How natives say keep

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the mouth slightly open.

  • Form the long 'ee' sound by pushing the tongue forward and up.

  • End with a light 'p' sound by closing the lips gently.

Common Mistakes

  • kip (kip)

  • cap (cap)

  • coop (coop)

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Same as American

common mistakes

  • Same as American

FAQ

Does 'keep' have one or two syllables?

'Keep' has one syllable.

Is the 'p' in 'keep' silent?

No, the 'p' is sounded gently.

How do I make the long 'ee' sound?

Push your tongue forward and up, smiling slightly.

Definition

keep

To continue to hold or possess something.

Word Family

keeper

/ˈkiː.pər/

noun

A person who manages or guards.

Example: He is a zookeeper.

kept

/kɛpt/

verb

Past tense of keep.

Example: She kept the secret.

keeping

/ˈkiː.pɪŋ/

noun

The act of holding or maintaining.

Example: Keeping pets is fun.

Key Pronunciation Differences

The vowel sound is shorter in keeper.

The 't' sound is emphasized in kept.

The ending is different in keeping.

Pro Tips

Practice the vowel sound

Smile as you say 'ee' to make it clear.

End with a soft 'p'

Gently close your lips for the 'p' without popping the sound.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Keep

adventure

/ədˈvɛntʃər/

amateur

/ˈæm.ə.tʃɚ/

appeal

/əˈpil/

appreciate

/əˈpriʃiˌeɪt/

athlete

/ˈæθ.liːt/

ball

/bɔl/

basin

/ˈbeɪ.sən/

basket

/ˈbæskɪt/

Other Categories

Test Your Pronunciation On Words Within Other Categories

adjoin

abroad

ability

agenda