2 syllables: Dol, by. Stress on Dol.
DOHL-bee
/ˈdoʊlbi/
Dolby is pronounced DOHL-bee (/ˈdoʊlbi/). It has two syllables (Dol-by), with the stress on "Dol". Dolby is a proper noun used primarily as a brand name (as in Dolby Laboratories) and refers to audio technologies and systems. It denotes a specific company and its patented sound processing methods; its pronunciation is stable across contexts and does not change with usage. In common reference, it signals high-fidelity audio trademarked technologies rather than a generic descriptor.
nounDolby is a proper noun used primarily as a brand name (as in Dolby Laboratories) and refers to audio technologies and systems. It denotes a specific company and its patented sound processing methods; its pronunciation is stable across contexts and does not change with usage. In common reference, it signals high-fidelity audio trademarked technologies rather than a generic descriptor.
"Dolby Laboratories released a new surround-sound format for home theaters."
"The cinema upgrade includes Dolby Atmos for immersive audio."
"You’ll find Dolby technologies in many streaming services and Blu-ray players."
Dolby is pronounced with two syllables: DOHL-bee. The primary stress is on the first syllable. IPA: US ˈdɑlbɪ, UK ˈdɒlbɪ, AU ˈdɒlbɪ. It sounds like ‘dahl-bee’ with a dark, open back vowel in the first syllable and a short, unstressed second vowel. When you say it, keep the tongue low in the mouth for the first vowel and finish with a crisp ‘bee’.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (pronouncing it as DOH-l-bee or dol-BEE), and altering the first vowel to a closer or rounded sound. Focus on maintaining a clear, low-back vowel in the first syllable (open [ɑ] or open-backed [ɒ] depending on accent) and a short, relaxed /ɪ/ or /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Practicing with careful IPA guidance helps stabilize the two-syllable rhythm.
In US English, the first vowel is a low back vowel [ɑ], sounding like ‘dahl-bee’ with slight rhotic rounding. In UK English, the first vowel is more open [ɒ], giving a crisper ‘dɒl-bee,’ and non-rhotic tendencies may subtly reduce the ‘r’ influence. In Australian English, the first vowel is often [ɒ] or [ɑ], with smoother, more clipped consonants. Across accents, the final consonant remains a clear ‘bee,’ with short duration.
The challenge lies in achieving the correct low-back vowel in the first syllable and the short, clipped second syllable, while keeping the overall two-syllable rhythm intact. The diphythong effect in some speakers—blending the /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ with a lightly voiced /l/—can blur the exact vowel quality. Paying attention to place of articulation and stable voicing in the second syllable helps stabilize the pronunciation.
Dolby has a strong front-facing first syllable with a prominent back vowel: /dɒlbɪ/ or /dɑːl-bi/ depending on the accent. The second syllable is short and unstressed, with a close front vowel in American practice. The brand-specific, two-syllable pattern makes it important to keep the first vowel open and the second vowel reduced, avoiding extra consonantal duration in the first syllable.
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Dolby originates from the surname of engineer Ray Dolby, who founded Dolby Laboratories in 1965. The surname itself is of uncertain but likely English origin, possibly a shortened form of older Germanic or Norman names with the -by suffix, akin to “town” in Old Norse-derived usage. The brand name Dol-by was chosen to sound distinctive, modern, and patent-friendly in the audio-technology market. Early usage centered on the company’s noise-reduction innovations (Dolby NR) and later expanded to surround-sound formats and processing technologies such as Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Atmos. Over time, “Dolby” has become a widely recognized proper noun associated with high-quality, patented audio processing rather than generic sound. The first well-documented commercial products appeared in the late 1960s to 1970s, establishing Dolby as a household name in cinema and home entertainment. The word’s meaning evolved from a surname to a brand sentinel for sound quality across cinema, television, and consumer electronics, ensuring that the term carries a precise technical association in global contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Dolby" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Dolby" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Dolby"
-bby sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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