How to Pronounce Roly-poly

To pronounce "roly-poly", say ROLYP-oly — 2 syllables, IPA /ˌɹəʊlɪˈpəʊli/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

roly-poly

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Accent

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Speed

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2

Syllables

9

Letters

/ˌɹəʊlɪˈpəʊli/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “roly-poly”

"roly-poly" has 2 syllables: rolyp-oly. It rhymes with rolly-poly, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: rolly-poly — easy to mix up when writing.

What does roly-poly mean?

noun

  1. A short, plump person.
  2. A steamed pudding made from suet pastry containing jam or fruit.

adjective

  1. Short and plump.
  2. Moving with a roll and sway.

adverb

  1. By rolling, so as to roll.
  2. Directly, without hesitating.

Synonyms

forward rollsomersault

Hear “roly-poly” 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 roly-poly

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

rolly-poly

Related words

fattyfatsopolypolymolecularitypolyhedralitypolygonialpolyhedroidpolyplet

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "roly-poly"?▾

"Roly-poly" has 2 syllables: rolyp · oly.

What is the IPA transcription of "roly-poly"?▾

The IPA transcription of "roly-poly" is /ˌɹəʊlɪˈpəʊli/.

What does "roly-poly" mean?▾

Roly-poly: A short, plump person.

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