English pronunciation

How to pronounce “instead

Phonetic spelling

in-STED

IPA /ˌɪnˈstɛd/

Syllable stress

in·stead

Stress falls on the highlighted syllable.

How do you spell “instead”?

i n s t e a d

instead” is spelled I-N-S-T-E-A-D. It is pronounced in-STED, so the spelling and the sound do not match letter for letter. Listen to the audio above and say it aloud while you read the letters.

Hear it in a sentence

  • I wanted coffee, but I ordered tea instead.

  • Instead of driving, let's walk to the park.

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