How to pronounce envious
Say it like EN-vee-us. Envious has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce envious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EN
- vee
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Envious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- veeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of envious
American and British speakers say envious in essentially the same way: /ˈɛnviəs/ in the US and /ˈɛnviəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: EN-vee-us.
What does envious mean?
- Feeling or exhibiting envy; jealously desiring the excellence or good fortune of another; maliciously grudging.“an envious man, disposition, or attack; envious tongues”
- Excessively careful; cautious.
Where does envious come from?
From Middle English envious, from Anglo-Norman envious, from Old French envieus, envious (modern French envieux), from Latin invidiōsus; more at envy.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying envious
How do you pronounce envious?
Say EN-vee-us. The American pronunciation is /ˈɛnviəs/. In British English it is /ˈɛnviəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in envious?
Envious has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EN). Broken into parts: EN · vee · us.
Do Americans and Brits say envious the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɛnviəs/ and the British form is /ˈɛnviəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.