How to pronounce busy
Say it like BIZ-ee. Busy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BIZ).
- BIZ
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: The u is said like a short i: 'BIZ-ee'.
Busy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BIZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of busy
American and British speakers say busy in essentially the same way: /ˈbɪzi/ in the US and /ˈbɪzi/ in the UK.
British respelling: BIZ-ee.
What does busy mean?
- Crowded with business or activities; having a great deal going on.“Be careful crossing that busy street.”
- Engaged with or preoccupied by an activity or person.“The director cannot see you now: he's busy.”
- Having much work to do; having much to get done.
- To make somebody busy or active; to occupy.“On my vacation I'll busy myself with gardening.”
Where does busy come from?
From Middle English bisy, busie, from Old English bisiġ (“busy, occupied, diligent”), from Proto-West Germanic *bisīg (“diligent; zealous; busy”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with busy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of busy.
Questions about saying busy
How do you pronounce busy?
Say BIZ-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɪzi/. In British English it is /ˈbɪzi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in busy?
Busy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BIZ). Broken into parts: BIZ · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say busy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbɪzi/ and the British form is /ˈbɪzi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.