play · pray7/20
Which word did you hear?
Real clips from the app. Turn your sound on.
Hear both words in 10 voices
Each row is one speaker saying both words. Play one, then the other, and switch to slow when the difference hides.
play
US IPA: /pleɪ/
pray
US IPA: /preɪ/
Speed
- American woman, younger
- American woman, older
- American man, younger
- American man, older
- British woman, younger
- British woman, older
- British man, younger
- British man, older
- Australian woman
- Australian man
What's different
The p releases a puff of air and the L or R rides on it, so part of the sound is whispered. Listen to where the vowel starts: in pray, the r leaves it darker and a little rounded, like a quick "w"; in play, it starts bright.
There's a clue you can see as well: for pray, the lips are already rounded while the p is being said.
Studies: Logan et al. 1991 · Lively et al. 1993 · Lively et al. 1994 · Bradlow et al. 1997 · Bradlow et al. 1999
Listen for
R has a darker, rounded ring. L sounds lighter and clearer.
Start hearing the difference.
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