How to pronounce delay
Say it like dih-LAY. Delay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce delay. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- LAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Delay pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- LAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of delay
American and British speakers say delay in essentially the same way: /dɪˈleɪ/ in the US and /dɪˈleɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-LAY.
What does delay mean?
- cause to be slowed down or delayed“Traffic was delayed by the bad weather”“she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform”
- act later than planned, scheduled, or required“Don't delay your application to graduate school or else it won't be considered”
- stop or halt“Please stay the bloodshed!”
- time during which some action is awaited“instant replay caused too long a delay”“he ordered a hold in the action”
- the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time
Where does delay come from?
Akin to Old English latian (“to delay, hesitate”), Old English latu (“a delay, a hindrance”), Old English lǣfan (“to leave”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with delay
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of delay.
Questions about saying delay
How do you pronounce delay?
Say dih-LAY. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈleɪ/. In British English it is /dɪˈleɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in delay?
Delay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LAY). Broken into parts: dih · LAY.
Do Americans and Brits say delay the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈleɪ/ and the British form is /dɪˈleɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.