How to Pronounce "karaoke"
The correct pronunciation of "karaoke" is karr-ee-OH-kee /ˌkærɪˈəʊki/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "kara-OAK" habit for good.
karaoke
/ˌkærɪˈəʊki/A form of entertainment where people sing along to backing tracks.
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Record yourself saying “karaoke” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "kara-OAK" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying "kara-OAK" or "KA-rok" by merging the 'aoke' into one chunk. | karr-ee-OH-kee /ˌkærɪˈəʊki/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | Third syllable (OH). |
How Do You Pronounce "karaoke"?
"karaoke" is pronounced karr-ee-OH-kee /ˌkærɪˈəʊki/. The stress is on the third syllable (OH). As a noun, it means a form of entertainment where people sing along to backing tracks.
Four beats ending in 'kee', with the 'ao' splitting into 'ee-OH': karr-ee-OH-kee.
Note: US /ˌkæriˈoʊki/ ("karr-ee-OH-kee"); both end in 'kee', never 'oak'.
Say "karaoke" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
karr-ee-OH-kee — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
Third syllable (OH). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
Four beats ending in 'kee', with the 'ao' splitting into 'ee-OH': karr-ee-OH-kee.
Blend and repeat
Now say "karaoke" at normal speed: karr-ee-OH-kee. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "karaoke" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
key → karr-ee-OH-kee
Ends in 'kee' like 'key'.
NOT kara-OAK — karr-ee-OH-kee
Four beats; don't merge into 'oak'.
Say at speed: "We sang karaoke all night."
Keep all four beats.
Why "karaoke" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
Indian speakers compress 'aoke' into 'oak', but this Japanese loanword keeps four beats ending in 'kee'.
Tip: Say 'karr', 'ee', 'OH', 'kee', four beats: karr-ee-OH-kee.
Hear “karaoke” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
We sang karaoke all night.
The bar has a karaoke machine.
She loves karaoke.
Now say it inside a sentence
Getting "karaoke" right on its own is the easy part. Pronunciation only sticks in connected speech. Read a passage aloud and get scored on accuracy and pace, word by word — free, no login.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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