stay

How to Split "stay" into Syllables

The word stay is divided into 1 syllables: stay. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.

📝 Syllable Breakdown

• stay — 1st syllable

🔊 Pronunciation Guide

The phonetic transcription of stay:

• IPA: /steɪ/

📖 Definitions

1. stay (third-person singular simple present stays, present participle staying, simple past and past participle stayed or (obsolete) staid)
2. 1874 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Three Friends of Mine,” IV, in The Masque of Pandora and Other Poems, Boston: James R. Osgood, 1875, p. 353,[1]

📚 Word Origin & History

From Middle English steyen, staien, from Old French estayer, estaier (“to fix, prop up, support, stay”), from estaye, estaie (“a prop, stay”), from Middle Dutch staeye (“a prop, stay”), a contracted form of staede, stade (“a prop, stay, help, aid”) (compare Middle Dutch staeyen, staeden (“to make firm, stay, support, hold still, stabilise”)), from Proto-West Germanic *stadi (“a site, place, location, standing”), from Proto-Germanic *stadiz (“a standing, place”), from ...

✓ Why Learn Syllable Division?

Understanding how to break down stay into syllables helps with:

• Correct pronunciation — Knowing syllable structure ensures accurate speech
• Improved spelling — Breaking words into chunks makes them easier to remember and write
• Reading fluency — Recognizing syllable patterns speeds up reading comprehension
• Poetry and lyrics — Syllable counting is essential for meter and rhythm
• Language learning — Non-native speakers benefit from syllable awareness

📊 Similar Words Comparison

Compare stay with related words to understand syllable patterns:

Word	Syllables	Division
stay	1	stay
stead	1	stead
seaside	3	sea-si-de
sextette	3	sex-tet-te
situate	3	si-tua-te

🔗 Related Words

Explore syllable divisions of words related to stay:

Sta, stab, stag, Stan, star, stat, Staci, stack.