How to pronounce alley
Say it like AL-ee. Alley has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce alley. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AL
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Alley pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ALSay 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 alley
American and British speakers say alley in essentially the same way: /ˈæli/ in the US and /ˈæli/ in the UK.
British respelling: AL-ee.
What does alley mean?
- a narrow street with walls on both sides
- a lane down which a bowling ball is rolled toward pins
Where does alley come from?
From Middle English aleye, from Anglo-Norman aleie, feminine of alé, past participle of aler (“to go”) (French aller).
Words that rhyme with alley
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of alley.
Questions about saying alley
How do you pronounce alley?
Say AL-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈæli/. In British English it is /ˈæli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in alley?
Alley has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AL). Broken into parts: AL · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say alley the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈæli/ and the British form is /ˈæli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.