How to pronounce nigh
Say it like NY. Nigh is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nigh. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nigh pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of nigh
American and British speakers say nigh in essentially the same way: /naɪ/ in the US and /naɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: NY.
What does nigh mean?
- Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate.
- Almost, nearly.“We talked for nigh on to two hours.”
- to draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near
Where does nigh come from?
Inherited from Middle English neygh, from Old English nēah, from Proto-West Germanic *nāhw, from Proto-Germanic *nēhw, from *nēhwaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂neḱ- (“to reach”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with nigh
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nigh.
Questions about saying nigh
How do you pronounce nigh?
Say NY. The American pronunciation is /naɪ/. In British English it is /naɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nigh?
Nigh is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NY.
Do Americans and Brits say nigh the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /naɪ/ and the British form is /naɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.