How to pronounce kelly
Say it like KEL-ee. Kelly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kelly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KEL
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kelly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of kelly
American and British speakers say kelly in essentially the same way: /ˈkɛli/ in the US and /ˈkɛli/ in the UK.
British respelling: KEL-ee.
What does kelly mean?
- A square or hexagonal pipe that is turned in order to rotate the rotary table of a drilling rig.
- A roly-poly (toy).
- Kelly green.
Words that rhyme with kelly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kelly.
Questions about saying kelly
How do you pronounce kelly?
Say KEL-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɛli/. In British English it is /ˈkɛli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kelly?
Kelly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KEL). Broken into parts: KEL · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say kelly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkɛli/ and the British form is /ˈkɛli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.