How to pronounce marry
Say it like MER-ee. Marry has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce marry. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MER
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Marry pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MERSay 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 marry
American and British speakers say marry in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛri/ in the US and /ˈmæri/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAR-ee.
What does marry mean?
- take in marriage
- perform a marriage ceremony“The minister married us on Saturday”“We were wed the following week”
Where does marry come from?
From Middle English marien, from Anglo-Norman marïer, from Latin marītāre (“to wed”), from marītus (“husband, suitor”), from mās (“man, male”), of uncertain origin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with marry
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of marry.
Words that sound like marry
Questions about saying marry
How do you pronounce marry?
Say MER-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛri/. In British English it is /ˈmæri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in marry?
Marry has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MER). Broken into parts: MER · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say marry the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛri/ and the British form is /ˈmæri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as marry?
Marry sounds the same as merry in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.