How to pronounce thereby
Say it like thair-BY. Thereby has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce thereby. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- thair
- BY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Thereby pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- thairGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- BYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of thereby
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: thair-BY.
What does thereby mean?
- by that means or because of that“He knocked over the red wine, thereby ruining the table cloth”
Where does thereby come from?
From Middle English therby, from Old English ðǣrbig, equivalent to there + by.
Words that rhyme with thereby
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of thereby.
Questions about saying thereby
How do you pronounce thereby?
Say thair-BY. The American pronunciation is /ˌðɛrˈbaɪ/. In British English it is /ˌðɛəˈbaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thereby?
Thereby has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BY). Broken into parts: thair · BY.
Is thereby pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌðɛəˈbaɪ/ (thair-BY).