How to pronounce horsefly
Say it like HORS-fly. Horsefly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HORS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce horsefly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HORS
- fly
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Horsefly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HORSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- flyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of horsefly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HAWS-fly.
What does horsefly mean?
- Any of several medium to large flies, of the family Tabanidae, that suck the blood of mammals (not to be confused with Stomoxys calcitrans, the stable fly, or dog fly).
Where does horsefly come from?
From Middle English horse fliȝe, equivalent to horse + fly.
Questions about saying horsefly
How do you pronounce horsefly?
Say HORS-fly. The American pronunciation is /ˈhoʊrsˌflaɪ/. In British English it is /ˈhɔːsˌflaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in horsefly?
Horsefly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HORS). Broken into parts: HORS · fly.
Is horsefly pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈhɔːsˌflaɪ/ (HAWS-fly).