How to pronounce chickadee
Say it like CHIK-uh-dee. Chickadee has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHIK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce chickadee. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- CHIK
- uh
- dee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Chickadee pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHIKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- deeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of chickadee
American and British speakers say chickadee in essentially the same way: /ˈtʃɪkəˌdi/ in the US and /ˈtʃɪkəˌdiː/ in the UK.
British respelling: CHIK-uh-dee.
What does chickadee mean?
- Any of the small, mostly black and white North American songbirds of the genus Poecile of the family Paridae.
- Affectionate term of address.
Where does chickadee come from?
Apparent onomatopoeia from these birds' calls having a distinctive “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” sound, possibly influenced by chick or chicken.
Questions about saying chickadee
How do you pronounce chickadee?
Say CHIK-uh-dee. The American pronunciation is /ˈtʃɪkəˌdi/. In British English it is /ˈtʃɪkəˌdiː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in chickadee?
Chickadee has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHIK). Broken into parts: CHIK · uh · dee.
Do Americans and Brits say chickadee the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtʃɪkəˌdi/ and the British form is /ˈtʃɪkəˌdiː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.