The word “Nike” is one of the most well-known brand names in the world, associated with the global sportswear giant. However, many people mispronounce it, often assuming it follows common English pronunciation rules. Understanding the correct way to say “Nike” can help you sound more natural when discussing the brand. Here is how to pronounce “Nike”.

The correct pronunciation of “Nike” is:

/ˈnaɪ.ki/ (NIGH-kee)

It consists of two syllables:

“Nigh” – Rhymes with “high” or “fly.”

“Kee” – Rhymes with “key” and is lightly stressed.

Nike is named after the Greek goddess of victory, Νίκη (Nikē). In Greek, words ending in “e” (eta) are typically pronounced with an “ee” sound. While many English words drop the final vowel sound (like “bike” or “like”), Nike retains the correct Greek pronunciation with two syllables.

The most frequent mistake is pronouncing “Nike” as “Nike” (rhyming with “bike”) instead of the correct “NIGH-kee.” This is understandable since many English words ending in “e” have a silent final vowel. However, in this case, the “e” is pronounced.