How to pronounce oyez
Say it like oh-YAY. Oyez has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (YAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oyez. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- YAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oyez pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- YAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of oyez
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: OH-yay.
What does oyez mean?
- Hear ye. Attend. (Called by public criers or in court usually three times to secure silence or attentiveness).
- A cry of oyez.
- To proclaim with a cry of oyez.
Where does oyez come from?
Commonly folk-etymologized as (and pronounced homophonously to) O + yes in the early modern period.
Words that rhyme with oyez
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of oyez.
Questions about saying oyez
How do you pronounce oyez?
Say oh-YAY. The American pronunciation is /oʊˈjeɪ/. In British English it is /ˈəʊˌjeɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oyez?
Oyez has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (YAY). Broken into parts: oh · YAY.
Is oyez pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1. The British form is /ˈəʊˌjeɪ/ (OH-yay).