How to pronounce Malay
Say it like MAY-lay. Malay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Malay. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAY
- lay
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Malay pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- layKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of Malay
American and British speakers say Malay in essentially the same way: /ˈmeɪleɪ/ in the US and /ˈmeɪleɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAY-lay.
What does Malay mean?
- a member of a people inhabiting the northern Malay Peninsula and Malaysia and parts of the western Malay Archipelago
- a western subfamily of Western Malayo-Polynesian languages
- of or relating to or characteristic of the people or language of Malaysia and the northern Malay Peninsula and parts of the western Malay Archipelago“Malay peoples”“Malayan syllable structure”
Words that rhyme with Malay
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Malay.
Words that sound like Malay
Questions about saying Malay
How do you pronounce Malay?
Say MAY-lay. The American pronunciation is /ˈmeɪleɪ/. In British English it is /ˈmeɪleɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Malay?
Malay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY). Broken into parts: MAY · lay.
Do Americans and Brits say Malay the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmeɪleɪ/ and the British form is /ˈmeɪleɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as Malay?
Malay sounds the same as melee in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.