How to Pronounce Melee

To pronounce "melee", say MEL-ee — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈmeɪˌɫeɪ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

melee

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/ˈmeɪˌɫeɪ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “melee”

Break "melee" into 2 beats and lean on "MEL" — that's the stressed one.

What does melee mean?

noun

A battle fought at close range, one not involving ranged weapons; hand-to-hand combat; brawling.
A loud, confused or tumultuous fight, argument or scrap.

verb

To physically hit in close quarters, as opposed to shooting, blowing up, or other ranged means of damage. Often refers to the usage of a hand-to-hand weapon.

adjective

Of a weapon: used in close-range combat, e.g. a sword. Compare with ranged.
Of a character, using melee weapons.

Keep practicing

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Sounds worth drilling for a word spelled like this:

/l/ — l /ə/ — schwa /iː/ — long e

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "melee"?▾

To pronounce "melee", say MEL-ee — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈmeɪˌɫeɪ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

How many syllables are in "melee"?▾

"Melee" has 2 syllables: mel · ee.

What is the IPA transcription of "melee"?▾

The IPA transcription of "melee" is /ˈmeɪˌɫeɪ/.

What does "melee" mean?▾

Melee: A battle fought at close range, one not involving ranged weapons; hand-to-hand combat; brawling.

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