How to pronounce dally
Say it like DAL-ee. Dally has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dally. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DAL
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dally pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DALSay 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 dally
American and British speakers say dally in essentially the same way: /ˈdæli/ in the US and /ˈdæli/ in the UK.
British respelling: DAL-ee.
What does dally mean?
- To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle.
- To caress, especially of a sexual nature; to fondle or pet
- To delay unnecessarily; to while away.
- To wind the lasso rope (ie throw-rope) around the saddle horn (the saddle horn is attached to the pommel of a western style saddle) after the roping of an animal
- Several wraps of rope around the saddle horn, used to stop animals in roping.
Where does dally come from?
From Middle English dalien, from Anglo-Norman delaier.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with dally
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dally.
Questions about saying dally
How do you pronounce dally?
Say DAL-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈdæli/. In British English it is /ˈdæli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dally?
Dally has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DAL). Broken into parts: DAL · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say dally the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdæli/ and the British form is /ˈdæli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.