How to Pronounce Gay

To pronounce "gay", say GAY — one syllable, IPA /ɡeɪ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

gay

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

3

Letters

/ɡeɪ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “gay”

"gay" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with convey and display, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: gai, gaye, guay — easy to mix up when writing.

What does gay mean?

noun

  1. (chiefly in plural or attributive) A homosexual, especially a male homosexual; see also lesbian.
  2. Something which is bright or colorful, such as a picture or a flower.

verb

  1. To make happy or cheerful.
  2. To cause (something, e.g. AIDS) to be associated with homosexual people.

adjective

  1. (possibly obsolete) Happy, joyful, and lively.

    “The Gay Science”

  2. Quick, fast.

Hear “gay” 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 gay

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

conveydisplaydismaysobriquetdisarrayallaydecayplayportraycachefrayarray

Related words

homohomosexualhomophilequeerindulgentfestalfestivejoyous

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "gay"?▾

"Gay" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "gay"?▾

The IPA transcription of "gay" is /ɡeɪ/.

What does "gay" mean?▾

Gay: (chiefly in plural or attributive) A homosexual, especially a male homosexual; see also lesbian.

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