How to pronounce rayleigh
Say it like RAY-lee. Rayleigh has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rayleigh. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RAY
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rayleigh 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.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of rayleigh
American and British speakers say rayleigh in essentially the same way: /ˈreɪli/ in the US and /ˈreɪli/ in the UK.
British respelling: RAY-lee.
What does rayleigh mean?
- A unit of brightness (of the sky at night) equal to 10¹⁰/4π quanta per square meter per second per steradian
Where does rayleigh come from?
For Lord Rayleigh, English physicist
Words that rhyme with rayleigh
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rayleigh.
Questions about saying rayleigh
How do you pronounce rayleigh?
Say RAY-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈreɪli/. In British English it is /ˈreɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rayleigh?
Rayleigh has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAY). Broken into parts: RAY · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say rayleigh the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈreɪli/ and the British form is /ˈreɪli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.