How to pronounce kinky
Say it like KING-kee. Kinky has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KING).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kinky. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KING
- kee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kinky pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KINGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- keeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of kinky
American and British speakers say kinky in essentially the same way: /ˈkɪŋki/ in the US and /ˈkɪŋki/ in the UK.
British respelling: KING-kee.
What does kinky mean?
- Full of kinks; liable to kink or curl.“kinky hair”
- Marked by unconventional sexual preferences or behavior, as fetishism, sadomasochism, and other sexual practices.
- Queer; eccentric; crotchety.
Where does kinky come from?
From kink + -y. Compare Spanish canquiñi (“nappy”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with kinky
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kinky.
Questions about saying kinky
How do you pronounce kinky?
Say KING-kee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɪŋki/. In British English it is /ˈkɪŋki/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kinky?
Kinky has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KING). Broken into parts: KING · kee.
Do Americans and Brits say kinky the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkɪŋki/ and the British form is /ˈkɪŋki/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.