How to pronounce bailey
Say it like BAY-lee. Bailey 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 bailey. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAY
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bailey 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.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of bailey
American and British speakers say bailey in essentially the same way: /ˈbeɪli/ in the US and /ˈbeɪli/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAY-lee.
What does bailey mean?
- United States singer (1918-1990)
- English lexicographer who was the first to treat etymology consistently; his work was used as a reference by Samuel Johnson (died in 1742)
- the outer courtyard of a castle
Where does bailey come from?
From Old French baile (“palisade, enclosure”), from Latin bacula, plural of baculum (“stick, rod”).
Words that rhyme with bailey
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bailey.
Words that sound like bailey
Questions about saying bailey
How do you pronounce bailey?
Say BAY-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbeɪli/. In British English it is /ˈbeɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bailey?
Bailey has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAY). Broken into parts: BAY · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say bailey the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbeɪli/ and the British form is /ˈbeɪli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as bailey?
Bailey sounds the same as bally in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.