How to pronounce stray
Say it like STRAY. Stray 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 stray. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STRAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stray pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STRAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of stray
American and British speakers say stray in essentially the same way: /streɪ/ in the US and /streɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: STRAY.
What does stray mean?
- move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment“The gypsies roamed the woods”“roving vagabonds”
- wander from a direct course or at random“The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her”“don't drift from the set course”
- lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking“She always digresses when telling a story”“her mind wanders”
- an animal that has strayed (especially a domestic animal)
- not close together in time“isolated instances of rebellion”“a few stray crumbs”
- (of an animal) having no home or having wandered away from home“a stray calf”“a stray dog”
Where does stray come from?
From Middle English stray, strey, from Anglo-Norman estray, stray, Old French estrai, from the verb (see below).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with stray
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of stray.
Questions about saying stray
How do you pronounce stray?
Say STRAY. The American pronunciation is /streɪ/. In British English it is /streɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in stray?
Stray is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STRAY.
Do Americans and Brits say stray the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /streɪ/ and the British form is /streɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.