How to pronounce messy
Say it like MES-ee. Messy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce messy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MES
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Messy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MESSay 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 messy
American and British speakers say messy in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛsi/ in the US and /ˈmɛsi/ in the UK.
British respelling: MES-ee.
What does messy mean?
- dirty and disorderly“a mussy fussy bedroom”“a child's messy eating habits”
Where does messy come from?
From mess + -y.
Words that rhyme with messy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of messy.
Questions about saying messy
How do you pronounce messy?
Say MES-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛsi/. In British English it is /ˈmɛsi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in messy?
Messy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MES). Broken into parts: MES · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say messy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛsi/ and the British form is /ˈmɛsi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.