How to pronounce medley
Say it like MED-lee. Medley has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce medley. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MED
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Medley pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of medley
American and British speakers say medley in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛdli/ in the US and /ˈmɛdli/ in the UK.
British respelling: MED-lee.
What does medley mean?
- A collection or mixture of miscellaneous things.
- A collection of related songs played or mixed together as a single piece.
- A competitive swimming event that combines the four strokes of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.
- To combine, to form a medley.
Where does medley come from?
From Middle English medle, from Anglo-Norman medlee, Old French medlee, from the feminine past participle of early Medieval Latin misculō (“to mix”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with medley
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of medley.
Questions about saying medley
How do you pronounce medley?
Say MED-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛdli/. In British English it is /ˈmɛdli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in medley?
Medley has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MED). Broken into parts: MED · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say medley the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛdli/ and the British form is /ˈmɛdli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.