How to pronounce happy
Say it like HAP-ee. Happy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAP).
- HAP
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Happy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of happy
American and British speakers say happy in essentially the same way: /ˈhæpi/ in the US and /ˈhæpi/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAP-ee.
What does happy mean?
- Having a feeling arising from a consciousness of well-being or of enjoyment; enjoying good of any kind, such as comfort, peace, or tranquillity; blissful, contented, joyous.“Music makes me feel happy.”
- Experiencing the effect of favourable fortune; favored by fortune or luck; fortunate, lucky.
- Content, willing, satisfied (with or to do something); having no objection (to something).“Are you happy to pay me back by the end of the week?”
- A happy event, thing, person, etc.
- Often followed by up: to become happy; to brighten up, to cheer up.
- Often followed by up: to make happy; to brighten, to cheer, to enliven.
Where does happy come from?
From Middle English happy (“fortunate, happy”), perhaps an alteration of Middle English happyn, happen (“fortunate, happy”), possibly related to or from Old Norse heppinn (“fortunate, happy”); and potentially assimilated to be equivalent to
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with happy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of happy.
Questions about saying happy
How do you pronounce happy?
Say HAP-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈhæpi/. In British English it is /ˈhæpi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in happy?
Happy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAP). Broken into parts: HAP · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say happy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhæpi/ and the British form is /ˈhæpi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.