How to pronounce decoy
Say it like duh-KOY. Decoy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce decoy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- duh
- KOY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Decoy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- duhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- KOYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of decoy
American and British speakers say decoy in essentially the same way: /dəˈkɔɪ/ in the US and /dɪˈkɔɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-KOY.
What does decoy mean?
- A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger.
- A real or fake animal used by hunters to lure game.
- Deceptive military device used to draw enemy attention or fire away from a more important target.
- To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap.
- To act as, or use, a decoy.“As they were being decoyed, the rescue team carried the hostage and quietly slipped away.”
Where does decoy come from?
From Dutch de + kooi, literally "the cage".
Words that rhyme with decoy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of decoy.
Questions about saying decoy
How do you pronounce decoy?
Say duh-KOY. The American pronunciation is /dəˈkɔɪ/. In British English it is /dɪˈkɔɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in decoy?
Decoy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOY). Broken into parts: duh · KOY.
Do Americans and Brits say decoy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dəˈkɔɪ/ and the British form is /dɪˈkɔɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.