How to pronounce mary
Say it like MER-ee. Mary 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 mary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MER
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mary 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 mary
American and British speakers say mary in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛri/ in the US and /ˈmɛəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAIR-ree.
What does mary mean?
- Alternative letter-case form of Mary (“male homosexual”).
- Alternative form of marry (“indeed, in truth”).
Where does mary come from?
From Mary (“female name”).
Words that rhyme with mary
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mary.
Words that sound like mary
Questions about saying mary
How do you pronounce mary?
Say MER-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛri/. In British English it is /ˈmɛəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mary?
Mary has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MER). Broken into parts: MER · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say mary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛri/ and the British form is /ˈmɛəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as mary?
Mary sounds the same as marry, merry in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.