How to pronounce butterflies
Say it like BUHT-er-flyze. Butterflies has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce butterflies. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BUHT
- er
- flyze
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Butterflies pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BUHTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- flyzeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of butterflies
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: BUHT-uh-flyze.
What does butterflies mean?
- plural of butterfly How to pronounce butterfly
- third-person singular simple present indicative of butterfly How to pronounce butterfly
Questions about saying butterflies
How do you pronounce butterflies?
Say BUHT-er-flyze. The American pronunciation is /ˈbʌtɚˌflaɪz/. In British English it is /ˈbʌtəˌflaɪz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in butterflies?
Butterflies has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHT). Broken into parts: BUHT · er · flyze.
Is butterflies 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 /ˈbʌtəˌflaɪz/ (BUHT-uh-flyze).