How to pronounce salary
Say it like SAL-uh-ree. Salary has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce salary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SAL
- uh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Salary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of salary
American and British speakers say salary in essentially the same way: /ˈsæləri/ in the US and /ˈsæləri/ in the UK.
British respelling: SAL-uh-ree.
What does salary mean?
- something that remunerates“wages were paid by check”“he wasted his pay on drink”
Where does salary come from?
From Middle English salarie, from Anglo-Norman salarie, from Old French salaire, from Latin salārium (“wages”), the neuter form of the adjective salārius (“related to salt”), from sal (“salt”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with salary
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of salary.
Questions about saying salary
How do you pronounce salary?
Say SAL-uh-ree. The American pronunciation is /ˈsæləri/. In British English it is /ˈsæləri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in salary?
Salary has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAL). Broken into parts: SAL · uh · ree.
Do Americans and Brits say salary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsæləri/ and the British form is /ˈsæləri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.