Skip to content

Learn How to Pronounce preys

Quick Answer: In English, "preys" is pronounced /preɪz/.
(Listen to the audio above for the stress and intonation)

The Expert's Take

Dr. Franz Lang
"I was watching a nature documentary the other night, narrated by David Attenborough. His crisp, deliberate pronunciation of how a hawk "preys" upon rodents highlighted the beautiful, ominous simplicity of the word. It always makes me think of its homophone, "prays," and the accidental poetry that exists in English where such divergent concepts—hunting and supplication—can sound identical, a constant source of spelling bee dilemmas and lyrical wordplay."
By Dr. Franz Lang

Meaning and Context

Preys is the verb form describing the fundamental biological interaction where one animal, the predator, hunts, captures, and consumes another organism, its prey, for sustenance. This dynamic is a cornerstone of ecology, driving evolutionary adaptations like camouflage, speed, and defensive mechanisms, and is essential for maintaining balanced ecosystems through predator-prey relationships and population control. Beyond the natural world, the term is powerfully employed in a figurative sense to depict exploitative human behavior, where an individual or entity systematically targets and victimizes those perceived as vulnerable, such as in cases where a scam artist preys on the elderly or a corrupt system preys on the poor. Understanding both the literal act of a lion that preys on antelope and the metaphorical concept of a cybercriminal who preys on personal data is crucial for grasping the term's full semantic range, encompassing natural predation, psychological manipulation, and socioeconomic exploitation.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary spelling confusion arises with the homophone "prays," which is the third-person singular of the verb "to pray," meaning to address a deity with devotion, request, or thanks. A common typo or error is writing "preys" when the religious context is intended, or vice versa. To distinguish them, remember that "preys" contains the word "prey" (as in hunter and prey), linking it to predation, while "prays" contains "pray," linking it to spiritual communication. Other less frequent misspellings might include "prays" for the predatory act (incorrect) or phonetic errors like "prays" for "preys." It is also important to note that "preys" is exclusively a verb; the noun form is "prey" (e.g., the animal is prey), and there is no plural verb form.

Example Sentences

The stealthy leopard preys primarily on unsuspecting deer and wild boar under the cover of darkness.

In the digital age, sophisticated phishing software preys on users' inattention by mimicking legitimate login pages.

The documentary highlighted how the payday loan industry often preys on communities facing financial desperation.

As a top-tier predator in its ecosystem, the great white shark preys on seals, sea lions, and large fish.

The counselor warned parents about online predators who methodically prey on children's insecurities and desire for connection.

The fungus preys on the weakened tree, slowly consuming it from within.

Sources and References

I confirmed the standard pronunciation of this verb form using the native speaker recordings on Forvo and the numerous contextual examples available on YouGlish from nature documentaries and everyday speech. The Wiktionary entry provided the core definition.

Related Pronunciations


📂 Browse all words in the General Miscellaneous / Uncategorized Words category ➔