How to pronounce oily
Say it like OY-lee. Oily has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oily. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OY
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oily pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of oily
American and British speakers say oily in essentially the same way: /ˈɔɪli/ in the US and /ˈɔɪli/ in the UK.
British respelling: OY-lee.
What does oily mean?
- Covered with or containing oil.“oily machinery; oily rags; oily fish; oily cooking”
- Resembling oil.“oily swells; oily seas”
- Excessively friendly or polite but insincere.
- A marble with an oily luster.
- Oilskins. (waterproof garment)
Where does oily come from?
From Middle English oylei, equivalent to oil + -y.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with oily
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of oily.
Questions about saying oily
How do you pronounce oily?
Say OY-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔɪli/. In British English it is /ˈɔɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oily?
Oily has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OY). Broken into parts: OY · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say oily the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɔɪli/ and the British form is /ˈɔɪli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.