How to pronounce any
Say it like EN-ee. Any has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce any. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EN
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Any pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of any
American and British speakers say any in essentially the same way: /ˈɛni/ in the US and /ˈɛni/ in the UK.
British respelling: EN-ee.
What does any mean?
- one or some or every or all without specification“give me any peaches you don't want”“not any milk is left”
- to any degree or extent“it isn't any better”
Where does any come from?
Cognate with Saterland Frisian eenich (“some”), West Frisian iennich (“only”), Dutch enig (“any, some”), Afrikaans enig (“any”), German Low German enig (“some”), German einig (“some”); via Proto-Indo-European *óynos cognate with Latin ūllus
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with any
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of any.
Questions about saying any
How do you pronounce any?
Say EN-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈɛni/. In British English it is /ˈɛni/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in any?
Any has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EN). Broken into parts: EN · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say any the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɛni/ and the British form is /ˈɛni/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.