How to pronounce coy
Say it like KOY. Coy is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce coy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Coy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of coy
American and British speakers say coy in essentially the same way: /kɔɪ/ in the US and /kɔɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: KOY.
What does coy mean?
- Bashful, shy, retiring.
- Reluctant to give details about something sensitive; notably prudish.
- Pretending shyness or modesty, especially in an insincere or flirtatious way.
- A trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.
- A company
Where does coy come from?
From Middle English coy, from Old French coi, earlier quei (“quiet, still”), from Latin qu(i)ētus (“resting, at rest”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with coy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of coy.
Questions about saying coy
How do you pronounce coy?
Say KOY. The American pronunciation is /kɔɪ/. In British English it is /kɔɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in coy?
Coy is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KOY.
Do Americans and Brits say coy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kɔɪ/ and the British form is /kɔɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.