How to pronounce nelly
Say it like NEL-ee. Nelly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nelly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NEL
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nelly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NELSay 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 nelly
American and British speakers say nelly in essentially the same way: /ˈnɛli/ in the US and /ˈnɛli/ in the UK.
British respelling: NEL-ee.
What does nelly mean?
- A person's life.
- A silly person.
- A giant petrel, Macronectes giganteus and Macronectes halli.
- Unmanly; effeminate.
Where does nelly come from?
Shortened from Nelly Duff, for puff, i.e.
Words that rhyme with nelly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nelly.
Questions about saying nelly
How do you pronounce nelly?
Say NEL-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈnɛli/. In British English it is /ˈnɛli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nelly?
Nelly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NEL). Broken into parts: NEL · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say nelly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈnɛli/ and the British form is /ˈnɛli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.