How to pronounce hefty
Say it like HEF-tee. Hefty has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HEF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hefty. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HEF
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hefty pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HEFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of hefty
American and British speakers say hefty in essentially the same way: /ˈhɛfti/ in the US and /ˈhɛfti/ in the UK.
British respelling: HEF-tee.
What does hefty mean?
- With heft; heavy, strong, vigorous, mighty, impressive“He can throw a hefty punch.”
- Strong; bulky.“They use some hefty bolts to hold up road signs.”
- Possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful; powerfully or heavily built.“He was a tall, hefty man.”
Where does hefty come from?
The similarity with German heftig (“vigorous, violent, intense”) is apparently coincidental.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with hefty
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hefty.
Questions about saying hefty
How do you pronounce hefty?
Say HEF-tee. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɛfti/. In British English it is /ˈhɛfti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hefty?
Hefty has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HEF). Broken into parts: HEF · tee.
Do Americans and Brits say hefty the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhɛfti/ and the British form is /ˈhɛfti/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.