How to pronounce abbey
Say it like AB-ee. Abbey has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce abbey. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AB
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Abbey pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ABSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of abbey
American and British speakers say abbey in essentially the same way: /ˈæbi/ in the US and /ˈæbi/ in the UK.
British respelling: AB-ee.
What does abbey mean?
- a church associated with a monastery or convent
- a convent ruled by an abbess
- a monastery ruled by an abbot
Where does abbey come from?
From A.D. 1250 in Middle English abbey, abbeye (“convent headed by an abbot”) (compare archaic English abbaye), itself borrowed from Old French abaïe, abbaïe, abeïe, abbeïe (Modern French abbaye) from Late Latin or Ecclesiastical Latin abbā
Words that rhyme with abbey
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of abbey.
Questions about saying abbey
How do you pronounce abbey?
Say AB-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈæbi/. In British English it is /ˈæbi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in abbey?
Abbey has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AB). Broken into parts: AB · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say abbey the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈæbi/ and the British form is /ˈæbi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.