How to pronounce rely
Say it like rih-LY. Rely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rely. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- LY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rely pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- rihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- LYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of rely
American and British speakers say rely in essentially the same way: /rɪˈlaɪ/ in the US and /rɪˈlaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-LY.
What does rely mean?
- have faith or confidence in“you can count on me to help you any time”“Look to your friends for support”
Where does rely come from?
From Middle English relien, from Old French relier (“fasten, attach, rally, oblige”), from Latin religo (“fasten, bind fast”), from re- + ligo.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with rely
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rely.
Questions about saying rely
How do you pronounce rely?
Say rih-LY. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈlaɪ/. In British English it is /rɪˈlaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rely?
Rely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LY). Broken into parts: rih · LY.
Do Americans and Brits say rely the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈlaɪ/ and the British form is /rɪˈlaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.