How to pronounce prey
Say it like PRAY. Prey 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 prey. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PRAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Prey 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 prey
American and British speakers say prey in essentially the same way: /preɪ/ in the US and /preɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: PRAY.
What does prey mean?
- a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence“he fell prey to muggers”“everyone was fair game”
- animal hunted or caught for food
- profit from in an exploitatory manner“He feeds on her insecurity”
- prey on or hunt for“These mammals predate certain eggs”
Where does prey come from?
From Middle English preye, prei, preyȝe, borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Old French preie, one of the variants of proie, from Latin praeda.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with prey
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of prey.
Words that sound like prey
Questions about saying prey
How do you pronounce prey?
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 prey?
Prey is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PRAY.
Do Americans and Brits say prey 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 prey?
Prey sounds the same as pray in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.