How to pronounce criminy
Say it like KRY-mih-nee. Criminy has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce criminy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KRY
- mih
- nee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Criminy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KRYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- mihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- neeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of criminy
American and British speakers say criminy in essentially the same way: /ˈkraɪmɪni/ in the US and /ˈkraɪmɪni/ in the UK.
British respelling: KRY-mih-nee.
What does criminy mean?
- Expressing surprise or impatience.
Where does criminy come from?
Either from Italian crimine (“crime”), or a minced oath from "Christ's money" (in reference to the silver that Judas was paid for betraying Jesus), or a deformation of Gemini (which was recorded as an oath from the 1660s).
Questions about saying criminy
How do you pronounce criminy?
Say KRY-mih-nee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkraɪmɪni/. In British English it is /ˈkraɪmɪni/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in criminy?
Criminy has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRY). Broken into parts: KRY · mih · nee.
Do Americans and Brits say criminy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkraɪmɪni/ and the British form is /ˈkraɪmɪni/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.