How to pronounce crotchety
Say it like KROCH-ih-tee. Crotchety has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KROCH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce crotchety. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KROCH
- ih
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Crotchety pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KROCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of crotchety
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: KROCH-uh-tih.
What does crotchety mean?
- Cranky, disagreeable, or stubborn, especially if prone to odd whims or fancies.
Where does crotchety come from?
From crotchet + -y, using crotchet in the 16th-century sense of a whim or fancy.
Questions about saying crotchety
How do you pronounce crotchety?
Say KROCH-ih-tee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkrɑtʃɪti/. In British English it is /ˈkrɒtʃətɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in crotchety?
Crotchety has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KROCH). Broken into parts: KROCH · ih · tee.
Is crotchety pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈkrɒtʃətɪ/ (KROCH-uh-tih).