2 syllables: Cai, que. Stress on Cai.
KEYE-kee
/ˈkaɪ.kiː/
Caique is pronounced KEYE-kee (/ˈkaɪ.kiː/). It has two syllables (Cai-que), with the stress on "Cai". Caique (noun) refers to a small parrot native to tropical South America, or a small craft used in Brazil. The term can describe a variety of parrot species kept as pets or used in bird-keeping contexts. It is also a term used for a small, often hand-built, boat in Brazil. The word has familial ties to Portuguese usage and regional naming.
nounCaique (noun) refers to a small parrot native to tropical South America, or a small craft used in Brazil. The term can describe a variety of parrot species kept as pets or used in bird-keeping contexts. It is also a term used for a small, often hand-built, boat in Brazil. The word has familial ties to Portuguese usage and regional naming.
How to Pronounce Caique
"I bought a Caique at the aviary to join my collection of exotic parrots."
"The caique is known for its playful demeanor and vibrant plumage."
"We rode a caique along the river in the Brazilian village."
Pronounce as /kaɪˈiːk/ (kai-EEK). Start with a hard 'k' sound, then a rising diphthong in 'kai' ending with a long 'ee' in the second syllable. The primary stress is on the second syllable: cai-QUE. Keep the 'i' in the first syllable as a long vowel, and ensure the second syllable has a clear 'ee' vowel. Audio resources: Cambridge/Oxford dictionaries show the /kaɪˈiːk/ pattern; you can compare with native-recorded pronunciations on Forvo or YouGlish for different accents.
Common mistakes: 1) Slurring the second syllable with a short 'ee' or 'i'—avoid; pronounce a full long 'ee' (ː). 2) Misplacing stress on the first syllable (kaɪ-IK) instead of the second (kaɪ-ˈiːk). 3) Not clearly articulating the initial /kaɪ/ diphthong; ensure you move from /k/ to a high vowel ending in /aɪ/ before the long /iː/ in the second syllable. Correction: exaggerate the /aɪ/ on the first syllable but relax the lip closure toward the second syllable to reach /ˈiː/ with a steady e. Use slow practice with minimal pairs.
US/UK/AU share /kaɪˈiːk/, but differences arise in vowel quality and rhoticity. US speakers may preserve a slightly brighter /aɪ/ and a clearer /ˈiː/ in the second syllable, UK speakers may show a marginally tighter jaw and more clipped second syllable, and AU speakers may have a more centralized vowel quality in the first syllable. All accents maintain the stress on the second syllable. Listening to native speakers via YouGlish helps map these differences across contexts.
Key challenges: the two-syllable sequence with a long vowel in the second syllable and a diphthong in the first, plus the need to stress the second syllable. The /aɪ/ on the first syllable requires precise tongue advancement and jaw openness, while /ˈiːk/ in the second demands a tense, high front vowel with a crisp /k/ release. Mastery involves controlling vowel length, avoiding vowel reduction in casual speech, and maintaining consistent timing between syllables.
Caique has no silent letters; the emphasis is on the second syllable while the first contains a diphthong. The word’s unique feature is the strong second-syllable vowel length and the crisp /k/ at the end. Pay attention to maintaining a steady, non-reduced /iː/ in the final vowel and a clean separation between /aɪ/ and /iː/. IPA reference /kaɪˈiːk/ helps you gauge exact mouth positions.
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- US: The second syllable tends to be clearer, with a robust /iː/. Maintain rhoticity in connected speech for US; don't skimp the /r/ since it’s not rhotic here. - UK: Slightly shorter vowel in the second syllable and crisper consonants; avoid over-emphasizing the diphthong; keep an even tempo. - AU: Similar to US but with a slight centralized vowel in the first syllable; ensure the final /k/ is released with a clean stop. Use IPA cues /kaɪˈiːk/ and listen to native recordings in each area.
The word Caique likely derives from Portuguese caique, which has multiple senses in maritime and avian contexts. In Brazilian Portuguese, caique can refer to a small boat (caïque), a tongue-in-cheek or affectionate term for a pet parrot, or a generic light craft. The etymology reveals cross-linguistic borrowing among Romance and West African trade languages shaping nautical and avian lexica in coastal Brazil and neighboring regions. Early uses in European maritime catalogs and colonial-era bird-keeping catalogs contributed to a semantic shift, with the term consolidating into Brazilian usage for small parrots (including species like the Caique alicua and other species in the genus Pionopsitta). The first known attestations appear in 18th- to 19th-century Portuguese texts describing exotic birds and riverine boats. Over time, the word traveled into English-language ornithology and hobbyist literature, retaining the core sense of a lively, small parrot or boat, depending on context. Contemporary usage spans pet-keeping, ornithological references, and regional boat names, with pronunciation and accent carrying Portuguese phonotactics into the name’s cadence.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Caique" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Caique" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Caique" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Caique"
-que sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
