How to pronounce imply
Say it like im-PLY. Imply has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PLY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce imply. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- PLY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Imply pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- imGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- PLYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of imply
American and British speakers say imply in essentially the same way: /ˌɪmˈplaɪ/ in the US and /ɪmˈplaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: im-PLY.
What does imply mean?
- express or state indirectly
- suggest as a logically necessary consequence; in logic
- have as a logical consequence“The water shortage means that we have to stop taking long showers”
Where does imply come from?
From Middle English implien, emplien, borrowed from Old French emplier, from Latin implicare (“to infold, involve”), from in (“in”) + plicare (“to fold”).
Words that rhyme with imply
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of imply.
Questions about saying imply
How do you pronounce imply?
Say im-PLY. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪmˈplaɪ/. In British English it is /ɪmˈplaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in imply?
Imply has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PLY). Broken into parts: im · PLY.
Do Americans and Brits say imply the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪmˈplaɪ/ and the British form is /ɪmˈplaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.