How to pronounce jay
Say it like JAY. Jay is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- JAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Jay pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of jay
American and British speakers say jay in essentially the same way: /dʒeɪ/ in the US and /dʒeɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: JAY.
What does jay mean?
- Any of the numerous species of birds belonging to several genera within the family Corvidae, including Garrulus, Cyanocitta, Aphelocoma, Perisoreus, Cyanocorax, Gymnorhinus, Cyanolyca, Ptilostomus, and Calocitta, allied to the crows, but smaller, more graceful in form, often handsomely coloured, usu
- Any of various other birds of similar appearance and behaviour.
- The Indian roller, Coracias benghalensis.
- The name of the Latin script letter J/j.
- A marijuana cigarette; a joint.
Where does jay come from?
From Middle English jay, from Old French jai ("jay"; Modern French geai), either from Late Latin gaius (“jay”), or from Old French gai (“gay, merry”), so named due to its plumage, from Old Frankish *gāhi (“quick, impetuous”), from Proto-Ger
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- k
- kae
- bluejay
- john jay
Words that rhyme with jay
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of jay.
Words that sound like jay
- j
- jae
- jaye
Questions about saying jay
How do you pronounce jay?
Say JAY. The American pronunciation is /dʒeɪ/. In British English it is /dʒeɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in jay?
Jay is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: JAY.
Do Americans and Brits say jay the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dʒeɪ/ and the British form is /dʒeɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as jay?
Jay sounds the same as j, jae, jaye in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.