How to pronounce slay
Say it like SLAY. Slay is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce slay. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SLAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Slay pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SLAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of slay
American and British speakers say slay in essentially the same way: /sleɪ/ in the US and /sleɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SLAY.
What does slay mean?
- To kill; to murder.“The knight slew the dragon.”
- To eradicate or stamp out.“You must slay these thoughts.”
- To defeat; to overcome (in a competition or contest).
- That slays (in any sense).
- Something excellent, amazing, or fashionable.
Where does slay come from?
Cognate with Alemannic German schlaa (“to beat, hit”), Central Franconian schlage, schlon, schloon (“to beat, hit, strike”), Dutch and Low German slaan (“to beat, hit, strike”), German schlagen, schlahen, schlahn (“to beat, hit, strike”), L
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with slay
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of slay.
Words that sound like slay
Questions about saying slay
How do you pronounce slay?
Say SLAY. The American pronunciation is /sleɪ/. In British English it is /sleɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in slay?
Slay is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SLAY.
Do Americans and Brits say slay the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /sleɪ/ and the British form is /sleɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as slay?
Slay sounds the same as sleigh in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.