How to pronounce nearby
Say it like neer-BY. Nearby has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nearby. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- neer
- BY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nearby pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- neerGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- BYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of nearby
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: neer-BY.
What does nearby mean?
- close at hand“the nearby towns”“concentrated his study on the nearby planet Venus”
- not far away in relative terms“she works nearby”“the planets orbiting nearby are Venus and Mars”
Where does nearby come from?
From Middle English ner-bi, neer by, equivalent to near + by.
Words that rhyme with nearby
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nearby.
Questions about saying nearby
How do you pronounce nearby?
Say neer-BY. The American pronunciation is /ˌnɪrˈbaɪ/. In British English it is /ˌnɪəˈbaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nearby?
Nearby has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BY). Broken into parts: neer · BY.
Is nearby pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌnɪəˈbaɪ/ (neer-BY).