How to pronounce hay
Say it like HAY. Hay is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hay. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hay pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of hay
American and British speakers say hay in essentially the same way: /heɪ/ in the US and /heɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAY.
What does hay mean?
- grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
- convert (plant material) into hay
Words that rhyme with hay
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hay.
Questions about saying hay
How do you pronounce hay?
Say HAY. The American pronunciation is /heɪ/. In British English it is /heɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hay?
Hay is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: HAY.
Do Americans and Brits say hay the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /heɪ/ and the British form is /heɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.