How to pronounce ahoy
Say it like uh-HOY. Ahoy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HOY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ahoy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- HOY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ahoy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- HOYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of ahoy
American and British speakers say ahoy in essentially the same way: /əˈhɔɪ/ in the US and /əˈhɔɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-HOY.
What does ahoy mean?
- Used to hail a ship, a boat or a person, or to attract attention.
- Warning of something approaching or impending.
- To hail with a cry of "ahoy".
- An utterance of this interjection.“There were many ahoys heard from the approaching ship.”
Where does ahoy come from?
From a- + hoy (a nautical call used in hauling), from Middle English hoy (interjection), a greeting dating back to the fourteenth century.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with ahoy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ahoy.
Questions about saying ahoy
How do you pronounce ahoy?
Say uh-HOY. The American pronunciation is /əˈhɔɪ/. In British English it is /əˈhɔɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ahoy?
Ahoy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HOY). Broken into parts: uh · HOY.
Do Americans and Brits say ahoy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈhɔɪ/ and the British form is /əˈhɔɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.