How to pronounce canny
Say it like KAN-ee. Canny has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce canny. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAN
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Canny pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of canny
American and British speakers say canny in essentially the same way: /ˈkæni/ in the US and /ˈkæni/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAN-ee.
What does canny mean?
- Careful, prudent, cautious.“The politician gave a canny response to the reporter’s questions.”
- Knowing, shrewd, astute.“The canny lawyer knew just how to get what he wanted.”
- Frugal, thrifty.“canny investments”
- Natural, normal.
- Very, considerably; quite, rather.“a canny long journey”
- Gently, quietly; carefully, skilfully.“he sits very canny”
Where does canny come from?
Northern English dialect, from can (“to know”) ( + -y), from Middle English can, first and third person singular of cunnen, connen (“to be able, know how to”), from Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with canny
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of canny.
Questions about saying canny
How do you pronounce canny?
Say KAN-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkæni/. In British English it is /ˈkæni/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in canny?
Canny has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAN). Broken into parts: KAN · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say canny the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkæni/ and the British form is /ˈkæni/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.