How to Pronounce They

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

they

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/ðeɪ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “they”

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

What does they mean?

pronoun

  1. (the third-person plural) A group of people, animals, plants or objects previously mentioned.

    “Dogs may bark if they want to be fed.”

  2. (the third-person singular, sometimes proscribed) A single person, previously mentioned, especially if of unknown or non-binary gender, but typically not if previously named and identified as male or female.

    “They requested a seat at Friday's performance but didn't say if they preferred the balcony or the floor.”

Words that rhyme with they

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

conveydisplaydismaysobriquetdisarrayallaygaydecayplayportraycachefray

Related words

canadiansceschildrencounseldepartmentselleseverybodyhim

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "they"?▾

"They" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "they"?▾

The IPA transcription of "they" is /ðeɪ/.

What does "they" mean?▾

They: (the third-person plural) A group of people, animals, plants or objects previously mentioned.

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