How to pronounce lei
Say it like LAY. Lei is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lei. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lei 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.
American vs British pronunciation of lei
American and British speakers say lei in essentially the same way: /leɪ/ in the US and /leɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: LAY.
What does lei mean?
Where does lei come from?
Borrowed from Hawaiian lei.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with lei
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lei.
Words that sound like lei
Questions about saying lei
How do you pronounce lei?
Say LAY. The American pronunciation is /leɪ/. In British English it is /leɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lei?
Lei is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LAY.
Do Americans and Brits say lei the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /leɪ/ and the British form is /leɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as lei?
Lei sounds the same as lay, ley in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.