How to Pronounce Employ

To pronounce "employ", say EMPL-oy — 2 syllables, IPA /ɛmˈplɔɪ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

employ

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Accent

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Speed

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2

Syllables

6

Letters

/ɛmˈplɔɪ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “employ”

"employ" has 2 syllables: empl-oy. It rhymes with coy and enjoy, if that helps it stick.

What does employ mean?

noun

  1. The state of being an employee; employment.

    “The school district has six thousand teachers in its employ.”

  2. The act of employing someone or making use of something; employment.

verb

  1. To hire (somebody for work or a job).

    “Yesterday our local garage employed a new mechanic.”

  2. To use (somebody for a job, or something for a task).

    “The burglar employed a jemmy to get in.”

Synonyms

hireapplyuseutilize

Hear “employ” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with employ

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

coyenjoyalloyjoydestroytoyannoyploytomboydecoycorduroydeploy

Related words

employmenthireuseutilizeapplyutiliseengagehiring

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "employ"?▾

"Employ" has 2 syllables: empl · oy.

What is the IPA transcription of "employ"?▾

The IPA transcription of "employ" is /ɛmˈplɔɪ/.

What does "employ" mean?▾

Employ: The state of being an employee; employment.

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