How to pronounce horseplay
Say it like HORS-play. Horseplay 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 horseplay. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HORS
- play
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Horseplay 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 "aw" in law.
- playGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of horseplay
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HAWS-play.
What does horseplay mean?
- Rough or rowdy play that can often result in unintentional physical harm.
- To engage in horseplay.
Where does horseplay come from?
A compound of horse + play, possibly from observation of boisterous horses playing, or from its attributive sense "strong, big or coarse".
Questions about saying horseplay
How do you pronounce horseplay?
Say HORS-play. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɔrsˌpleɪ/. In British English it is /ˈhɔːsˌpleɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in horseplay?
Horseplay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HORS). Broken into parts: HORS · play.
Is horseplay 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 /ˈhɔːsˌpleɪ/ (HAWS-play).