How to pronounce scaly
Say it like SKAY-lee. Scaly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce scaly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKAY
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Scaly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKAYSay 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 scaly
American and British speakers say scaly in essentially the same way: /ˈskeɪli/ in the US and /ˈskeɪli/ in the UK.
British respelling: SKAY-lee.
What does scaly mean?
- Covered or abounding with scales.“a scaly fish a scaly stem”
- Composed of scales lying over each other.“a scaly bulb”
- Resembling scales, laminae, or layers.
- The scaly yellowfish (Labeobarbus natalensis).
Where does scaly come from?
From Middle English scali, skaly.
Words that rhyme with scaly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of scaly.
Questions about saying scaly
How do you pronounce scaly?
Say SKAY-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈskeɪli/. In British English it is /ˈskeɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in scaly?
Scaly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKAY). Broken into parts: SKAY · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say scaly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈskeɪli/ and the British form is /ˈskeɪli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.