How to pronounce betray
Say it like bih-TRAY. Betray has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce betray. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- TRAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Betray 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.
- TRAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of betray
American and British speakers say betray in essentially the same way: /bɪˈtreɪ/ in the US and /bɪˈtreɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: bih-TRAY.
What does betray mean?
- To deliver into the hands of an enemy by treachery or fraud, in violation of trust; to give up treacherously or faithlessly.“An officer betrayed the city.”
- To prove faithless or treacherous to, as to a trust or one who trusts; to be false to; to deceive.“to betray a person or a cause”
- To violate the confidence of, by disclosing a secret, or that which one is bound in honor not to make known.
Where does betray come from?
Middle English bi- is from Old English be- (“be-”), from Proto-Germanic *bi- (“be-”), from Proto-Germanic *bi (“near, by”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi (“at, near”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with betray
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of betray.
Questions about saying betray
How do you pronounce betray?
Say bih-TRAY. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈtreɪ/. In British English it is /bɪˈtreɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in betray?
Betray has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRAY). Broken into parts: bih · TRAY.
Do Americans and Brits say betray the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bɪˈtreɪ/ and the British form is /bɪˈtreɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.