How to Pronounce "mayonnaise"
The correct pronunciation of "mayonnaise" is may-uh-NAYZ /ˌmeɪəˈneɪz/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "MAY-onnaise" habit for good.
mayonnaise
/ˌmeɪəˈneɪz/A thick, creamy sauce made from egg yolks, oil and vinegar.
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Record yourself saying “mayonnaise” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "MAY-onnaise" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying 'MAY-onnaise' with the stress on the first syllable. | may-uh-NAYZ /ˌmeɪəˈneɪz/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | Third syllable (NAYZ). |
How Do You Pronounce "mayonnaise"?
"mayonnaise" is pronounced may-uh-NAYZ /ˌmeɪəˈneɪz/. The stress is on the third syllable (NAYZ). As a noun, it means a thick, creamy sauce made from egg yolks, oil and vinegar.
In British and Indian-taught English the main stress is on the LAST syllable, NAYZ — not on 'MAY' at the front.
Note: US commonly front-stresses it, /ˈmeɪəneɪz/ ("MAY-uh-nayz"); the UK and Indian-taught lead is final-syllable may-uh-NAYZ.
Say "mayonnaise" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
may-uh-NAYZ — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
Third syllable (NAYZ). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
In British and Indian-taught English the main stress is on the LAST syllable, NAYZ — not on 'MAY' at the front.
Blend and repeat
Now say "mayonnaise" at normal speed: may-uh-NAYZ. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "mayonnaise" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
MAYONNAISE ends like 'DAYS' (NAYZ)
Land the loud final beat on a clear '-NAYZ'.
NOT MAY-uh-nayz — may-uh-NAYZ
The loud beat is the last one, not the first.
Say at speed: "Add a spoon of mayonnaise."
Keep the stress on NAYZ mid-sentence.
Why "mayonnaise" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
Indian English evens the word out and rests on the visible first chunk 'MAY', not the correct NAYZ.
Tip: Build up to a hard final beat: may-uh-NAYZ.
Hear “mayonnaise” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
Add a spoon of mayonnaise.
This sandwich has too much mayonnaise.
She made the mayonnaise from scratch.
Now say it inside a sentence
Getting "mayonnaise" right on its own is the easy part. Pronunciation only sticks in connected speech. Read a passage aloud and get scored on accuracy and pace, word by word — free, no login.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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