How to pronounce pliers
Say it like PLY-erz. Pliers has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PLY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pliers. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PLY
- erz
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pliers pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PLYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- erzKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of pliers
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PLY-uz.
What does pliers mean?
- A pincer-like gripping tool that multiplies the strength of the user's hand, often used for bending things.“I need a pair of pliers to get a good grip on that broken screw.”
- plural of plier How to pronounce plier
Where does pliers come from?
From ply (“to bend”) + -er + -s.
Questions about saying pliers
How do you pronounce pliers?
Say PLY-erz. The American pronunciation is /ˈplaɪɚz/. In British English it is /ˈplaɪəz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pliers?
Pliers has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PLY). Broken into parts: PLY · erz.
Is pliers 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 /ˈplaɪəz/ (PLY-uz).