How to pronounce ladyship
Say it like LAY-dee-ship. Ladyship has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ladyship. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAY
- dee
- ship
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ladyship pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- shipKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of ladyship
American and British speakers say ladyship in essentially the same way: /ˈleɪdiʃɪp/ in the US and /ˈleɪdiʃɪp/ in the UK.
British respelling: LAY-dee-ship.
What does ladyship mean?
- Term of respect for a woman of the peerage without using her title.“"Her ladyship will be unable to attend tonight," he said, with a wink because he hadn't said why.”
- Formal form of address for a lady judge (as opposed to the informal "judge").
Where does ladyship come from?
From Middle English ladyschipe, ladyshipe; equivalent to lady + -ship.
Questions about saying ladyship
How do you pronounce ladyship?
Say LAY-dee-ship. The American pronunciation is /ˈleɪdiʃɪp/. In British English it is /ˈleɪdiʃɪp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ladyship?
Ladyship has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAY). Broken into parts: LAY · dee · ship.
Do Americans and Brits say ladyship the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈleɪdiʃɪp/ and the British form is /ˈleɪdiʃɪp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.