English pronunciation · Words Starting with L
Lay Pronunciation
Lay is pronounced LAY, IPA /ˈleɪ/.
LAY
US /ˈleɪ/ · UK /ˈleɪ/
Syllables: LAY (1 syllable)
verb: To put something down carefully, and the past tense of lie.
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Lay in a Sentence
- Lay the cloth on the table.
- He lay on the sofa all afternoon.
- They lay the foundations next week.
Common Mispronunciations of Lay
Not LY
That ay is the vowel of day. The long i of lie needs the ie spelling instead.
Not LEH
Let the vowel glide upwards towards ee rather than stopping flat.
Tip: You lay something down and you lie down yourself. The past of lie is lay, which is where the trouble starts.
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