How to pronounce honesty
Say it like ON-uh-stee. Honesty has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce honesty. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ON
- uh
- stee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Honesty pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- steeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of honesty
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: ON-ih-stee.
What does honesty mean?
- the quality of being honest
- southeastern European plant cultivated for its fragrant purplish flowers and round flat papery silver-white seedpods that are used for indoor decoration
Where does honesty come from?
From Middle English honeste (“honor, integrity”), from Old French honesté (compare modern French honnêteté).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying honesty
How do you pronounce honesty?
Say ON-uh-stee. The American pronunciation is /ˈɑnəsti/. In British English it is /ˈɒnɪsti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in honesty?
Honesty has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ON). Broken into parts: ON · uh · stee.
Is honesty pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈɒnɪsti/ (ON-ih-stee).