How to pronounce broody
Say it like BROO-dee. Broody has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BROO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce broody. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BROO
- dee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Broody pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BROOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of broody
American and British speakers say broody in essentially the same way: /ˈbrudi/ in the US and /ˈbruːdi/ in the UK.
British respelling: BROO-dee.
What does broody mean?
- A female bird in the condition to incubate eggs; a broody hen, duck, etc.“There are six broodies in that coop.”
- Of birds: sitting persistently and protectively on a nest, in order to hatch eggs.“a broody hen”
- Of any creature or person: showing an interest in raising young.
- Brooding, dwelling upon one's thoughts; moody.
Where does broody come from?
From Middle English *brody, *brodi, from Old English brōdiġ (“broody”), equivalent to brood + -y.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with broody
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of broody.
Questions about saying broody
How do you pronounce broody?
Say BROO-dee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbrudi/. In British English it is /ˈbruːdi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in broody?
Broody has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BROO). Broken into parts: BROO · dee.
Do Americans and Brits say broody the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbrudi/ and the British form is /ˈbruːdi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.