How to pronounce belay
Say it like bih-LAY. Belay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce belay. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- LAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Belay pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- bihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- LAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of belay
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1.
British respelling: BEE-lay.
What does belay mean?
- To make (a rope) fast by turning it around a fastening point such as a cleat.
- To handle a climbing rope to prevent (a climber) from falling to the ground.“He would need an experienced partner to belay him on the difficult climbs.”
- To lay aside; to stop; to cancel.“Belay that order!”
- The securing of a rope to a rock or other sturdy object.
- The object to which a rope is secured.
- A location at which a climber stops and builds an anchor with which to secure their partner.
- simple past of belie (“encompass”) How to pronounce belie
Where does belay come from?
From Middle English beleggen, bileggen, from Old English beleċġan (“to cover, invest, surround, afflict, attribute to, charge with, accuse”), From Proto-West Germanic *bilaggjan, equivalent to be- (“about, around”) + lay.
Words that rhyme with belay
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of belay.
Questions about saying belay
How do you pronounce belay?
Say bih-LAY. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈleɪ/. In British English it is /ˈbiːleɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in belay?
Belay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LAY). Broken into parts: bih · LAY.
Is belay pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1. The British form is /ˈbiːleɪ/ (BEE-lay).