How to pronounce needy
Say it like NEE-dee. Needy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce needy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NEE
- dee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Needy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of needy
American and British speakers say needy in essentially the same way: /ˈnidi/ in the US and /ˈniːdi/ in the UK.
British respelling: NEE-dee.
What does needy mean?
- needy people collectively“they try to help the needy”
- poor enough to need help from others
- demanding or needing attention, affection, or reassurance to an excessive degree
Where does needy come from?
From Middle English nedy, nedi (“necessitous”), from Old English nēdiġ, *nīediġ ("of need, obligated, compelled"; found in the derivative nīediġnes (“obligation”)), from Proto-Germanic *naudigaz (“of need, forced, compelled”), equivalent to need + -y.
Words that rhyme with needy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of needy.
Questions about saying needy
How do you pronounce needy?
Say NEE-dee. The American pronunciation is /ˈnidi/. In British English it is /ˈniːdi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in needy?
Needy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NEE). Broken into parts: NEE · dee.
Do Americans and Brits say needy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈnidi/ and the British form is /ˈniːdi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.