How to pronounce pay
Say it like PAY. Pay is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pay. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pay pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of pay
American and British speakers say pay in essentially the same way: /peɪ/ in the US and /peɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: PAY.
What does pay mean?
- give money, usually in exchange for goods or services“I paid four dollars for this sandwich”“Pay the waitress, please”
- convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow“Don't pay him any mind”“give the orders”
- cancel or discharge a debt“pay up, please!”
- something that remunerates“wages were paid by check”“he wasted his pay on drink”
Where does pay come from?
From Middle English payen, from Old French paiier (“pay”), from Medieval Latin pācāre (“to settle, satisfy”) from Latin pācāre (“to pacify”).
Words that rhyme with pay
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pay.
Words that sound like pay
Questions about saying pay
How do you pronounce pay?
Say PAY. The American pronunciation is /peɪ/. In British English it is /peɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pay?
Pay is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PAY.
Do Americans and Brits say pay the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /peɪ/ and the British form is /peɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as pay?
Pay sounds the same as pe in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.