How to pronounce pray
Say it like PRAY. Pray is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- PRAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pray pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PRAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of pray
American and British speakers say pray in essentially the same way: /preɪ/ in the US and /preɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: PRAY.
What does pray mean?
- address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer“pray to the Lord”
- call upon in supplication; entreat“I beg you to stop!”
Where does pray come from?
Cognate via Indo-European of Old English frignan, fricgan, German fragen, Dutch vragen.
Words that rhyme with pray
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pray.
Words that sound like pray
Questions about saying pray
How do you pronounce pray?
Say PRAY. The American pronunciation is /preɪ/. In British English it is /preɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pray?
Pray is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PRAY.
Do Americans and Brits say pray the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /preɪ/ and the British form is /preɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as pray?
Pray sounds the same as prey in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.