How to pronounce standby
Say it like STAND-by. Standby has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STAND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce standby. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STAND
- by
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Standby pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STANDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- byGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of standby
American and British speakers say standby in essentially the same way: /ˈstændˌbaɪ/ in the US and /ˈstændˌbaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: STAND-by.
What does standby mean?
- A state of readiness without immediate involvement; remaining in preparation for (a sudden or unforeseen event or situation).“The troops were on standby in case of an attack.”
- A replacement kept on standby.
- Sleep mode.
Where does standby come from?
Deverbal from stand by.
Questions about saying standby
How do you pronounce standby?
Say STAND-by. The American pronunciation is /ˈstændˌbaɪ/. In British English it is /ˈstændˌbaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in standby?
Standby has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STAND). Broken into parts: STAND · by.
Do Americans and Brits say standby the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈstændˌbaɪ/ and the British form is /ˈstændˌbaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.