How to pronounce doily
Say it like DOY-lee. Doily has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce doily. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DOY
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Doily pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DOYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of doily
American and British speakers say doily in essentially the same way: /ˈdɔɪli/ in the US and /ˈdɔɪli/ in the UK.
British respelling: DOY-lee.
What does doily mean?
- A small ornamental piece of lace or linen or paper used to protect a surface from scratches by hard objects such as vases or bowls; or to decorate a plate of food.
- A similar circular piece of lace worn as a head-covering by some married Jewish women.
Where does doily come from?
From Doiley, the name of a 17th-century London draper.
Words that rhyme with doily
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of doily.
Questions about saying doily
How do you pronounce doily?
Say DOY-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɔɪli/. In British English it is /ˈdɔɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in doily?
Doily has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOY). Broken into parts: DOY · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say doily the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɔɪli/ and the British form is /ˈdɔɪli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.