How to pronounce baby
Say it like BAY-bee. Baby has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce baby. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAY
- bee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Baby pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- beeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of baby
American and British speakers say baby in essentially the same way: /ˈbeɪbi/ in the US and /ˈbeɪbi/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAY-bee.
What does baby mean?
- a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk“the baby began to cry again”“she held the baby in her arms”
- the youngest member of a group (not necessarily young)“the baby of the family”“the baby of the Supreme Court”
- an immature childish person“he remained a child in practical matters as long as he lived”“stop being a baby!”
- treat with excessive indulgence“grandparents often pamper the children”“Let's not mollycoddle our students!”
Where does baby come from?
From Middle English baby, babie (“baby”), a diminutive form of babe (“babe, baby”), equivalent to babe + -y/-ie (“endearing and diminutive suffix”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with baby
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of baby.
Questions about saying baby
How do you pronounce baby?
Say BAY-bee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbeɪbi/. In British English it is /ˈbeɪbi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in baby?
Baby has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAY). Broken into parts: BAY · bee.
Do Americans and Brits say baby the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbeɪbi/ and the British form is /ˈbeɪbi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.