How to pronounce carry
Say it like KAR-ee. Carry has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce carry. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAR
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Carry pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of carry
American and British speakers say carry in essentially the same way: /ˈkæri/ in the US and /ˈkæri/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAR-ee.
Other ways to say carry
Carry also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- KER-ee /ˈkɛri/
What does carry mean?
- move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body“You must carry your camping gear”“carry the suitcases to the car”
- have with oneself; have on one's person“She always takes an umbrella”“I always carry money”
- transmit or serve as the medium for transmission“Sound carries well over water”“The airwaves carry the sound”
- the act of carrying something
Where does carry come from?
From Middle English carien, from Anglo-Norman carier (modern French charrier); from a derivative of Latin carrus (“four-wheeled baggage wagon”), ultimately of Gaulish origin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying carry
How do you pronounce carry?
Say KAR-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkæri/. In British English it is /ˈkæri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in carry?
Carry has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAR). Broken into parts: KAR · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say carry the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkæri/ and the British form is /ˈkæri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.