How do you say Melee?

[Haydyn]

If I'm not paying attention I'll say may-lay. If I am I will say me-lee. I like the way me-lee sounds. It doesn't really make sense to say may-lay. Just another one of those things that proves learning English must be a *****.

 

[Elvoret]

MAY-LAY!!!
Dun-dun-dun-dun daa-daa-daa-daa dun-dun-dun-dun...

 

[kickyourass]

I used to say it more like Me-lee, but even then it never really sounded right, so now I say it May-lay.

"Quart."

But I have a speech impediment.

That is one of the funniest posts I've ever seen on this site.
Here have a

Spoiler: cookie

 

[Uber Evil]

may-lay. I used to say me-lee but over time the more i hear it the more may-lay was said so I just assumed that may-lay was the correct answer.

Exactly what this good man has just said. Before, mee-lee, now may-lay.

 

[Onoto]

I never realized there was any alternative to pronouncing it "may-lay".

 

[Eerors]

Both ways are correct. U.S. English say May-Lay. U.K. English say Me-Lee.

See: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/melee

well atleast i feel a bit better about saying Me-Lee now

Be proud of you're individuality. Whilst those pesky US-speakers are mocking the way we say Yoghurt, Laboratory and Aeroplane, we can relax safe in the knowledge that we know the subtleties of the English language better then any!

Mee-Lee.

I always thought May-Lay sounds like a French Man-Whore.

This made me lol ^_^

 

[Naheal]

Both. Depends on what accent I'm mimicking.

 

[Easton Dark]

May-Lay

Mee-Lee sounds like a tiny meal.

 

[CrashBang]

Both ways are correct. U.S. English say May-Lay. U.K. English say Me-Lee.

See: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/melee

I'm British and I say may-lay
Also may-lay, I'm pretty sure, is correct, if we're talking about pronouncing it the way the French do, because it's spelled 'mélée' and the accents over the e makes an 'ay' sound

 

[kuyo]

M'lay

 

[DarkShadow144]

I say May-lay. My friend looks like hes gonna snap my neck every time I say it like that though, He's kind of a grammar Nazi and goes nuts when someone says something he thinks is wrong.

 

[FirstPersonWinner]

I used to say Me Lee also until someone told me the correct pronunciation.

ITS FRENCH: mêlée is the actual spelling. So the correct way to say it grammatically is may-lay

 

[NezumiiroKitsune]

Me Lee, like I hate grammar and never bothered to learn my name.

 

[Summerstorm]

Meh-lee

so not like this:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/melee

and more like this:
http://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/m%C3%AAl%C3%A9e

but since i am german i use hard "E"'s which, i am sure, will make any french person wanting to rip my tongue out *g*.

 

[Ailia]

May-lay, as per the original pronounciation. Me-lee makes my french blood boil with rage.

 

[Terminal Blue]

Probably closest to Meh-lay.

The acute 'e' sound doesn't exist in English. Technically it should be more like 'meh-leh' but that would sound silly, so saying meh-lay (without stressing the ay) is probably as close as you can get without adopting a French accent.

A hard 'ee' sound is just as incorrect. It's an acute vowel.

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

mailay.

Sounds like fail.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

In my head I say "may lay", but when I speak out loud I try not to say it in case I'm wrong

 

[Cj Vanek]

It is pronounced may-lay and thats how I say it.

 

[Enslave_All_Elves]

I say May-lay. My friend looks like hes gonna snap my neck every time I say it like that though, He's kind of a grammar Nazi and goes nuts when someone says something he thinks is wrong.

Here's what you do man:

1) Get a dictionary. Bear with me, I'm not going to be a dick to you, but to your friend.

2) Find melee. Show him the pronounciation.

3) Be a real dick. Don't let a know it all one up you, even if he is your friend. You are teaching a life lesson in humility when you instruct him about the French roots, accent, and proper pronounciation of melee. Recite it out loud and point at it in the book, for effect.

4) Have a mop as his head may explode. At the very least you can hit him with it if he gets unreasonable.

Use this opportunity to beat him at the game while he is stunned by his own FAIL.

Go forth and conquer!

NOTE: If you are British and the pronounciation there turns out to be me-lee as people here say then inform of the Froginess of the word's origins. The French say may lay and it is their word.