How to pronounce many
Say it like MEN-ee. Many has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce many. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MEN
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Many pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of many
American and British speakers say many in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛni/ in the US and /ˈmɛni/ in the UK.
British respelling: MEN-ee.
What does many mean?
- a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by as or too or so or that; amounting to a large but indefinite number“many temptations”“the temptations are many”
Where does many come from?
The noun is from Middle English manye, *menye, from Old English manigeo, menigu (“company, multitude, host”), from Proto-West Germanic *managu, *managī, from Proto-Germanic *managō, *managį̄ (“multitude”), from the same root as the determiner.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with many
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of many.
Questions about saying many
How do you pronounce many?
Say MEN-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛni/. In British English it is /ˈmɛni/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in many?
Many has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEN). Broken into parts: MEN · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say many the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛni/ and the British form is /ˈmɛni/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.