How to Pronounce Lay

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

lay

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

3

Letters

/leɪ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “lay”

"lay" 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: laye, lait, lei, ley — easy to mix up when writing.

What does lay mean?

noun

  1. Arrangement or relationship; layout.

    “the lay of the land”

  2. A share of the profits in a business.

verb

  1. To place down in a position of rest, or in a horizontal position.

    “A shower of rain lays the dust.”

  2. To cause to subside or abate.

Synonyms

ascribeattributebecalmsettle downlie bylie withsleep with

Hear “lay” 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 lay

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

conveydisplaydismaysobriquetdisarrayallaygaydecayplayportraycachefray

Related words

setreposeputpositionplaceprofanenonprofessionallaic

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "lay"?▾

"Lay" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "lay"?▾

The IPA transcription of "lay" is /leɪ/.

What does "lay" mean?▾

Lay: Arrangement or relationship; layout.

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