How to pronounce mayonnaise
Say it like MAY-uh-nayz. Mayonnaise has three 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 mayonnaise. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAY
- uh
- nayz
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Americans say 'MAY-uh-nayz' or 'MAN-ayz'.
Mayonnaise 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.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nayzGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of mayonnaise
American and British speakers say mayonnaise in essentially the same way: /ˈmeɪəˌneɪz/ in the US and /ˈmeɪəneɪz/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAY-uh-nayz.
What does mayonnaise mean?
- A dressing made from vegetable oil, raw egg yolks, vinegar or lemon juice, and seasoning, used on salads, with French fries, in sandwiches, etc.
- Any cold dish with that dressing as an ingredient.“We served a lobster mayonnaise as a starter.”
- Any cream, for example for moisturizing the face or conditioning the hair, for which the base is egg yolks and oil.“hair mayonnaise”
- To cover or season with mayonnaise.
Where does mayonnaise come from?
Unadapted borrowing from French mayonnaise, possibly named after the city of Maó (Mahón in Spanish), Minorca, whence the recipe was brought back to France.
Questions about saying mayonnaise
How do you pronounce mayonnaise?
Say MAY-uh-nayz. The American pronunciation is /ˈmeɪəˌneɪz/. In British English it is /ˈmeɪəneɪz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mayonnaise?
Mayonnaise has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY). Broken into parts: MAY · uh · nayz.
Do Americans and Brits say mayonnaise the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmeɪəˌneɪz/ and the British form is /ˈmeɪəneɪz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.