How to pronounce hairy
Say it like HER-ee. Hairy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hairy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HER
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hairy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of hairy
American and British speakers say hairy in essentially the same way: /ˈhɛri/ in the US and /ˈhɛəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAIR-ee.
What does hairy mean?
- having or covered with hair“Jacob was a hairy man”“a hairy caterpillar”
- hazardous and frightening“hairy moments in the mountains”
Where does hairy come from?
The sense "terrifying, scary" possibly results from a blend of hair-raising and scary.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with hairy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hairy.
Words that sound like hairy
Questions about saying hairy
How do you pronounce hairy?
Say HER-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɛri/. In British English it is /ˈhɛəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hairy?
Hairy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HER). Broken into parts: HER · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say hairy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhɛri/ and the British form is /ˈhɛəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as hairy?
Hairy sounds the same as harry in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.