How To Pronounce Layer

layer

Phonemic

/ˈleɪ.ə/or/ˈleɪə/

Phonetic

[ˈleɪ.əʴ]

Phonemic

/ˈleɪ.ɚ/

In British English, layer is pronounced /ˈleɪ.ə/ or /ˈleɪə/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈleɪ.əʴ]. In American English, it is pronounced /ˈleɪ.ɚ/.

Layer has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first syllable. The British and American pronunciations are different, so listen to both.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.

Syllables, Stress And Endings

Syllables And Stress

leɪə

Layer has two syllables in British English, and the main stress is on the first syllable, shown in colour above. Its stress pattern is Oo, where O is the stressed syllable.

layer + -s

-s (plural, possessive or singular verb) is /z/ after a voiced consonant or a vowel sound.

/ˈleɪ.əz/or/ˈleɪəz/

/ˈleɪ.ɚz/

layer + -ed

-ed (past tense or past participle) is /d/ after a voiced consonant or a vowel sound.

/ˈleɪ.əd/or/ˈleɪəd/

/ˈleɪ.ɚd/

layer + -ing

-ing is always /ɪŋ/. In UK English a linking /r/ is added because the spelling ends in -r.

/ˈleɪ.ər.ɪŋ/or/ˈleɪə.rɪŋ/

/ˈleɪ.ɚ.ɪŋ/

Words That Rhyme With Layer

Questions About Layer

How do you pronounce layer in British English?

In British English, layer is pronounced /ˈleɪ.ə/ or /ˈleɪə/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈleɪ.əʴ].

How do you pronounce layer in American English?

In American English, layer is pronounced /ˈleɪ.ɚ/.

How many syllables are in layer?

Layer has two syllables, /leɪ/ + /ə/.

Where is the stress in layer?

The main stress is on the first syllable, /leɪ/.

Do British and American English pronounce layer the same way?

No. British English has /ˈleɪ.ə/ and American English has /ˈleɪ.ɚ/.

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Other Words With The Stress Pattern Oo

Nearby Words

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