How to pronounce barley
Say it like BAR-lee. Barley has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce barley. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAR
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Barley pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of barley
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BAH-lee.
What does barley mean?
- A cereal of the species Hordeum vulgare or its grains, often used as food or to make beer and other malted drinks.
- The seed of Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi).
Where does barley come from?
From Middle English barly, barli, from Old English bærlīċ (“barley-like”, adjective) (later referring to barley itself and grain crops of similar appearance), from bere (“barley”) (compare Scots bere (“six-rowed barley”)), from Proto-German
Words that rhyme with barley
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of barley.
Questions about saying barley
How do you pronounce barley?
Say BAR-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɑrli/. In British English it is /ˈbɑːli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in barley?
Barley has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAR). Broken into parts: BAR · lee.
Is barley pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbɑːli/ (BAH-lee).