How to pronounce aye
Say it like EYE. Aye is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce aye. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EYE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Aye pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EYESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of aye
American and British speakers say aye in essentially the same way: /aɪ/ in the US and /aɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: EYE.
What does aye mean?
- Yes; yea; a word expressing assent, or an affirmative answer to a question.
- A word used to acknowledge a command from a superior, usually preceded by a verbatim repeat-back.
- To respond with an "aye".
- An affirmative vote; one who votes in the affirmative.“to call for the ayes and nays”
Where does aye come from?
"Appears suddenly about 1575, and is exceedingly common about 1600." Probably from use of aye (“ever, always”) as expression of agreement or affirmation, or from Middle English a ye (“oh yes”), or synthesis of both.
Words that rhyme with aye
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of aye.
Words that sound like aye
Questions about saying aye
How do you pronounce aye?
Say EYE. The American pronunciation is /aɪ/. In British English it is /aɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in aye?
Aye is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: EYE.
Do Americans and Brits say aye the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /aɪ/ and the British form is /aɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as aye?
Aye sounds the same as ai, eye, i in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.