How to pronounce holey
Say it like HOH-lee. Holey has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce holey. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOH
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Holey pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of holey
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: HOH-lee.
What does holey mean?
- Having, or being full of, holes.“Fred loved holey Dutch cheese.”
Where does holey come from?
From Middle English holy, holi, holly, holli (“holey, spongy, hollow”); equivalent to hole + -y.
Words that rhyme with holey
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of holey.
Words that sound like holey
Questions about saying holey
How do you pronounce holey?
Say HOH-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈhoʊli/. In British English it is /ˈhəʊli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in holey?
Holey has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOH). Broken into parts: HOH · lee.
Is holey pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈhəʊli/ (HOH-lee).
What words sound the same as holey?
Holey sounds the same as holy, wholly in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.