How to pronounce lofty
Say it like LAWF-tee. Lofty has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAWF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lofty. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAWF
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lofty pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAWFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of lofty
American and British speakers say lofty in essentially the same way: /ˈlɔfti/ in the US and /ˈlɒfti/ in the UK.
British respelling: LOF-tee.
What does lofty mean?
- High, tall, having great height or stature.
- Idealistic, implying over-optimism.“a lofty goal”
- Extremely proud; arrogant; haughty.
Where does lofty come from?
From Middle English lofty, lofti, lofte (“of high rank; noble; ornate”), equivalent to loft (“sky, firmament; upper room”) + -y.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying lofty
How do you pronounce lofty?
Say LAWF-tee. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɔfti/. In British English it is /ˈlɒfti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lofty?
Lofty has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAWF). Broken into parts: LAWF · tee.
Do Americans and Brits say lofty the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɔfti/ and the British form is /ˈlɒfti/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.