How do you pronounce "holy"?

In American English: /ˈhoʊli/ (HOHL-ee). In British English: /hˈəʊli/ (H-ohl). In Canadian English: /ˈhoʊli/ (HOHL-ee). In Australian English: /hˈəʊli/ (H-ohl).

Is "holy" pronounced differently in American and British English?

Yes. In American English it's pronounced /ˈhoʊli/ (HOHL-ee), while in British English it's /hˈəʊli/ (H-ohl).

How to Pronounce "holy" | pronounce.how

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holy

regional

/ˈhoʊli/

HOHL-ee

Syllable Breakdown

hoʊlho·ily

Source

90%confidence📘 CMU Pronouncing Dictionary v0.7b

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Last updated: 2026-02-14