How to pronounce holy
Say it like HOH-lee. Holy 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 holy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOH
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Holy 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 holy
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: HOH-lee.
What does holy mean?
- a sacred place of pilgrimage
- belonging to or derived from or associated with a divine power
Where does holy come from?
Cognate with Scots halie, haly (“holy”), Yola holly, holy (“holy”), Saterland Frisian helig (“holy”), Alemannic German, Dutch, and German heilig (“holy, sacred”), Cimbrian hòolig (“holy”), Luxembourgish helleg (“holy”), Vilamovian haeliḱ, h
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with holy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of holy.
Words that sound like holy
Questions about saying holy
How do you pronounce holy?
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 holy?
Holy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOH). Broken into parts: HOH · lee.
Is holy 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 holy?
Holy sounds the same as wholly in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.