How to pronounce aliyah
Say it like uh-LEE-uh. Aliyah has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce aliyah. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- LEE
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Aliyah 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.
- LEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of aliyah
American and British speakers say aliyah in essentially the same way: /əˈliə/ in the US and /əˈliːə/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-LEE-uh.
What does aliyah mean?
- The calling up of someone to the bimah for the reading of the Torah.
- A subsection of a parashah (weekly Torah reading) read by (or on behalf of) one person.
- The immigration of Jews to Israel.
- To make aliyah, to immigrate to Israel.
Words that rhyme with aliyah
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of aliyah.
Questions about saying aliyah
How do you pronounce aliyah?
Say uh-LEE-uh. The American pronunciation is /əˈliə/. In British English it is /əˈliːə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in aliyah?
Aliyah has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEE). Broken into parts: uh · LEE · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say aliyah the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈliə/ and the British form is /əˈliːə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.