How to pronounce ray
Say it like RAY. Ray 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 ray. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ray pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of ray
American and British speakers say ray in essentially the same way: /reɪ/ in the US and /reɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: RAY.
What does ray mean?
- a column of light (as from a beacon)
- a branch of an umbel or an umbelliform inflorescence
- (mathematics) a straight line extending from a point
- emit as rays“That tower rays a laser beam for miles across the sky”
- extend or spread outward from a center or focus or inward towards a center“spokes radiate from the hub of the wheel”“This plants radiate spines in all directions”
- expose to radiation“irradiate food”
Where does ray come from?
Via Middle English, borrowed from Old French rai, from Latin radius (“staff, stake, spoke”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with ray
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ray.
Words that sound like ray
Questions about saying ray
How do you pronounce ray?
Say RAY. The American pronunciation is /reɪ/. In British English it is /reɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ray?
Ray is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: RAY.
Do Americans and Brits say ray the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /reɪ/ and the British form is /reɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as ray?
Ray sounds the same as re in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.