How to pronounce drowsy
Say it like DROW-zee. Drowsy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DROW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce drowsy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DROW
- zee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Drowsy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DROWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- zeeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of drowsy
American and British speakers say drowsy in essentially the same way: /ˈdraʊzi/ in the US and /ˈdraʊzi/ in the UK.
British respelling: DROW-zee.
What does drowsy mean?
- Inclined to drowse; heavy with sleepiness“I was feeling drowsy and so decided to make a cup of coffee to try to wake myself up.”
- Causing someone to fall sleep or feel sleepy; lulling; soporific.“It was a warm, drowsy summer afternoon.”
- Boring.
Where does drowsy come from?
From drowse + -y, despite the fact that drowsy (1520) is recorded before drowse (1570).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with drowsy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of drowsy.
Questions about saying drowsy
How do you pronounce drowsy?
Say DROW-zee. The American pronunciation is /ˈdraʊzi/. In British English it is /ˈdraʊzi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in drowsy?
Drowsy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DROW). Broken into parts: DROW · zee.
Do Americans and Brits say drowsy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdraʊzi/ and the British form is /ˈdraʊzi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.