How To Pronounce Fast

fast

Phonemic

/fɑːst/

Phonetic

[fɑːst̚]

Phonemic

/fæst/

In British English, fast is pronounced /fɑːst/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [fɑːst̚]. In American English, it is pronounced /fæst/.

Fast has one syllable. The British and American pronunciations are different, so listen to both.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.

Syllables, Stress And Endings

Syllables And Stress

fɑːst

Fast has one syllable in British English.

fast + -s

-s (plural, possessive or singular verb) is /s/ after a voiceless consonant.

/fɑːsts/

/fæsts/

fast + -ed

-ed (past tense or past participle) is /ɪd/ after /t/ or /d/.

/ˈfɑːs.tɪd/

/ˈfæs.tɪd/

fast + -ing

-ing is always /ɪŋ/.

/ˈfɑːs.tɪŋ/

/ˈfæs.tɪŋ/

fast + -er

-er (comparative) is /ə/ in UK English and /ɚ/ in US English.

/ˈfɑːs.tə/

/ˈfæs.tɚ/

fast + -est

-est (superlative) is always /ɪst/.

/ˈfɑːs.tɪst/

/ˈfæs.tɪst/

Words That Rhyme With Fast

Questions About Fast

How do you pronounce fast in British English?

In British English, fast is pronounced /fɑːst/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [fɑːst̚].

How do you pronounce fast in American English?

In American English, fast is pronounced /fæst/.

Do British and American English pronounce fast the same way?

No. British English has /fɑːst/ and American English has /fæst/.

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