What is pay? Pronunciation and usage in English

pay means . Learn how to pronounce and use pay through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of pay

payverb/noun

/peɪ/
Definition & pronunciation of pay

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "pay" in English. It's a tricky one because it's often mispronounced! Here's a breakdown:

The Correct Pronunciation:

The most common and accepted pronunciation is “pie”.

  • Sounds like "pie" (as in pie in the sky): This is the pronunciation you want to aim for.

Why it's tricky:

  • The "ay" sound is often dropped: Many people instinctively try to use the "ay" sound (like in "say" or "day"), but that's incorrect.
  • The "p" and "y" are blended: The "p" and "y" sounds merge together when spoken quickly.

Here's a breakdown of how to say it:

  1. Start with a "p" sound: Make a brief "p" sound.
  2. Immediately transition to a "y" sound: As you say the "p," smoothly shift your mouth to make the sound of "y" (like in "yes").
  3. Combine: The “p” and “y” blend into one sound – “pie”.

Resources to help you:

  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/pay/ - This website has audio recordings of native speakers saying the word in different accents.
  • YouTube: Search YouTube for "how to pronounce pay" - you'll find many videos demonstrating the correct pronunciation.

To help me give you even more tailored guidance, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (Different accents have slightly different pronunciations.)

Usage and examples with the word pay in English

Let's break down how to use the word "pay" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with many different meanings and ways to use it! Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. Payment – Giving Money

  • Basic Payment: This is the most common usage. It means to give money in exchange for something.
    • "I pay for my groceries with a credit card."
    • "She pays her rent on the first of the month."
    • "He paid $20 for the book."
  • Phrases related to payment:
    • Pay for: "I need to pay for the damage."
    • Pay with: “Can I pay with cash?”
    • Pay in full: “I paid in full for the service.”
    • Pay monthly/weekly/etc.: “We pay our mortgage monthly.”

2. To Reward or Compensate (Beyond Money)

  • Pay attention: “Please pay attention to the teacher.” (Means to focus on)
  • Pay respect: “She paid her respects to her grandfather.” (Means to show honor or deference)
  • Pay a compliment: “I paid him a compliment on his tie.” (Means to offer praise)
  • Pay a fee: “There’s a registration fee.” (A sum of money paid for a service or privilege)
  • Pay a toll: "We had to pay a toll to cross the bridge." (Pay a fee for using a road or bridge)

3. To Cause Something to Happen

  • Pay (a price): This means to suffer a consequence.
    • "You pay the price for your actions."
    • "He paid a heavy price for his recklessness."
  • Pay (attention to consequences): “You need to pay attention to the warning signs.” (Be mindful of the possible outcomes).
  • Pay (for a mistake): "I'm paying for my mistake." (Experiencing the negative results of a mistake)

4. To Perform a Duty or Responsibility

  • Pay a debt: To fulfill an obligation. "He paid his debts to the bank."
  • Pay taxes: “Citizens pay taxes to the government.” (Fulfilling a legal obligation)
  • Pay someone’s bills: "I pay my mother's bills."

5. As a Verb (Less Common - Related to Time)

  • Pay (a visit): To go and see someone. “I will pay you a visit next week.”
  • Pay (attention): (As mentioned above - focus/concentration)

6. "Pay" as a Noun (Rare)

  • Payoff: (Noun) – A final payment that settles a debt or resolves a situation. "The company's payoff from the merger was substantial."
  • Payback: (Noun) - Repercussions or revenge after a perceived wrong. "He’s waiting for his payback.”

Tips for Using "Pay" Correctly:

  • Context is key: The meaning of "pay" changes dramatically depending on the situation.
  • Consider the object of the verb: What are you paying for? (money, attention, respect, etc.)
  • Pay attention to the tense: “I pay” (present), “I paid” (past), “I will pay” (future).

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more specific advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of sentence are you trying to write where you want to use the word "pay"?

Synonyms for the word pay

Practice with vocabulary pay

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Companies often ________ a premium for skilled labor to attract top talent.
  2. Students must ________ close attention to the lecture to grasp complex concepts.
  3. The company promised to ________ employees for their travel expenses.
  4. Successful negotiations often involve making a reasonable ________ to the other party.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The board decided to ________ all outstanding debts by the end of the fiscal quarter. A) clear B) settle C) pay off D) discharge
  2. It's crucial to ________ attention to details when preparing a comprehensive financial report. A) afford B) dedicate C) provide D) pay
  3. The company agreed to ________ for the damages caused by the faulty product. A) account B) compensate C) be responsible D) pay
  4. Employees are expected to ________ their annual leave requests well in advance. A) submit B) hand in C) present D) forward
  5. To avoid penalties, all invoices must be ________ by the due date. A) settled B) discharged C) remitted D) cleared

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Rewrite the sentence to include a form of "pay": The manager acknowledged the excellent work of her team during the project.
  2. Rewrite the sentence to include a form of "pay": It is important to remember the contributions of our founders.
  3. Rewrite the sentence, replacing the implied action with a suitable alternative (do not use "pay"): We need to cover the costs associated with the new software license.

Answer:

Exercise 1:

  1. pay
  2. pay
  3. reimburse
  4. offer

Exercise 2:

  1. A) clear, B) settle, C) pay off, D) discharge
  2. D) pay
  3. B) compensate, D) pay
  4. A) submit, B) hand in, C) present, D) forward
  5. A) settled, B) discharged, C) remitted, D) cleared

Exercise 3:

  1. The manager paid tribute to her team's excellent work during the project.
  2. It is important to pay our respects to the contributions of our founders.
  3. We need to fund the costs associated with the new software license. (Alternative: We need to finance the costs associated with the new software license. / We need to bear the costs associated with the new software license.)

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