How to pronounce portray
Say it like por-TRAY. Portray has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce portray. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- por
- TRAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Portray pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- porKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- TRAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of portray
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: paw-TRAY.
What does portray mean?
- portray in words“The book portrays the actor as a selfish person”
- make a portrait of“Goya wanted to portray his mistress, the Duchess of Alba”
- assume or act the character of“She impersonates Madonna”“The actor portrays an elderly, lonely man”
Where does portray come from?
From Middle English portray, from Middle French portraire.
Words that rhyme with portray
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of portray.
Questions about saying portray
How do you pronounce portray?
Say por-TRAY. The American pronunciation is /pɔrˈtreɪ/. In British English it is /pɔːˈtreɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in portray?
Portray has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRAY). Broken into parts: por · TRAY.
Is portray 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 /pɔːˈtreɪ/ (paw-TRAY).