How to pronounce telly
Say it like TEL-ee. Telly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce telly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEL
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Telly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of telly
American and British speakers say telly in essentially the same way: /ˈtɛli/ in the US and /ˈtɛli/ in the UK.
British respelling: TEL-ee.
What does telly mean?
- Television.“Not much on telly tonight, as usual!”
- A television set.“We've got a new flat-screen telly.”
- Telegraph.
- A hotel or motel.“I'm staying at the telly this weekend.”
- Inclined to telling (by explicitly stating facts), instead of showing (by conveying an impression so that events are described in the narrative).
Where does telly come from?
Shortened form of tele(vision) + -y.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with telly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of telly.
Questions about saying telly
How do you pronounce telly?
Say TEL-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛli/. In British English it is /ˈtɛli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in telly?
Telly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEL). Broken into parts: TEL · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say telly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtɛli/ and the British form is /ˈtɛli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.