How to pronounce dowdy
Say it like DOW-dee. Dowdy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dowdy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DOW
- dee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dowdy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of dowdy
American and British speakers say dowdy in essentially the same way: /ˈdaʊdi/ in the US and /ˈdaʊdi/ in the UK.
British respelling: DOW-dee.
What does dowdy mean?
- A plain or shabby person.
- Plain and unfashionable in style or dress.
- Lacking stylishness or neatness; shabby.
- To press the crust into the filling during baking, to allow the juices to caramelize on top.
Where does dowdy come from?
First appears c. 1581.
Words that rhyme with dowdy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dowdy.
Questions about saying dowdy
How do you pronounce dowdy?
Say DOW-dee. The American pronunciation is /ˈdaʊdi/. In British English it is /ˈdaʊdi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dowdy?
Dowdy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOW). Broken into parts: DOW · dee.
Do Americans and Brits say dowdy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdaʊdi/ and the British form is /ˈdaʊdi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.