How to pronounce cranky
Say it like KRANG-kee. Cranky has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRANG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cranky. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KRANG
- kee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cranky pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KRANGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- keeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of cranky
American and British speakers say cranky in essentially the same way: /ˈkræŋki/ in the US and /ˈkrænki/ in the UK.
British respelling: KRAN-kee.
What does cranky mean?
- Not in good working condition; defective, faulty.
- Grouchy, grumpy, irritable; easily upset.“He got home from a long day at work tired and cranky.”
- Not in perfect mental working order; eccentric, peculiar.
Where does cranky come from?
From crank + -y. Compare Middle Low German krankich (“sickly, unwell”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with cranky
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cranky.
Questions about saying cranky
How do you pronounce cranky?
Say KRANG-kee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkræŋki/. In British English it is /ˈkrænki/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cranky?
Cranky has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRANG). Broken into parts: KRANG · kee.
Do Americans and Brits say cranky the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkræŋki/ and the British form is /ˈkrænki/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.