How to pronounce repay
Say it like ree-PAY. Repay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce repay. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ree
- PAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Repay pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- PAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of repay
American and British speakers say repay in essentially the same way: /riˈpeɪ/ in the US and /rɪˈpeɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-PAY.
What does repay mean?
- pay back“Please refund me my money”
- make repayment for or return something
- act or give recompense in recognition of someone's behavior or actions
Where does repay come from?
From Old French repaier (“to pay back”), from re- + paiier (“to pay”), from Latin pācāre (“to settle, to make peaceful”), from pāx (“peace”) + -ō (forming verbs).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with repay
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of repay.
Questions about saying repay
How do you pronounce repay?
Say ree-PAY. The American pronunciation is /riˈpeɪ/. In British English it is /rɪˈpeɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in repay?
Repay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAY). Broken into parts: ree · PAY.
Do Americans and Brits say repay the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /riˈpeɪ/ and the British form is /rɪˈpeɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.