How to pronounce ivory
Say it like EYE-vuh-ree. Ivory has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EYE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ivory. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EYE
- vuh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ivory pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EYESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- vuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of ivory
American and British speakers say ivory in essentially the same way: /ˈaɪvəri/ in the US and /ˈaɪvəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: EYE-vuh-ree.
What does ivory mean?
- a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
- a shade of white the color of bleached bones
Where does ivory come from?
From Middle English yvory, ivorie, from Anglo-Norman ivurie, from Latin eboreus (“in or of ivory”) adjective of ebur (“ivory”) (genitive eboris), from Demotic Egyptian yb (“ivory, Elephantine”) (compare Coptic ⲓⲏⲃ (iēb, “Elephantine”)), fro
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying ivory
How do you pronounce ivory?
Say EYE-vuh-ree. The American pronunciation is /ˈaɪvəri/. In British English it is /ˈaɪvəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ivory?
Ivory has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EYE). Broken into parts: EYE · vuh · ree.
Do Americans and Brits say ivory the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈaɪvəri/ and the British form is /ˈaɪvəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.