How to pronounce hoary
Say it like HOR-ee. Hoary has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hoary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOR
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hoary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of hoary
American and British speakers say hoary in essentially the same way: /ˈhɔri/ in the US and /ˈhɔːri/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAW-ree.
What does hoary mean?
- White, whitish, or grayish-white.
- White or gray with age.“The old man bowed his hoary head in acquiescence.”
- Of a pale silvery gray.
Where does hoary come from?
Possibly from Middle English *hori (suggested by horilocket (“hoary-locked, having hoary locks or curls”)), equivalent to hoar + -y.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with hoary
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hoary.
Questions about saying hoary
How do you pronounce hoary?
Say HOR-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɔri/. In British English it is /ˈhɔːri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hoary?
Hoary has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOR). Broken into parts: HOR · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say hoary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhɔri/ and the British form is /ˈhɔːri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.