How to pronounce ornery
Say it like OR-nuh-ree. Ornery has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ornery. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OR
- nuh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ornery pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of ornery
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: AW-nuh-ree.
What does ornery mean?
- Disagreeable, stubborn, and troublesome to deal with; cantankerous.
- Troublesome to deal with in a good way; mischievous, prankish, teasing.
Where does ornery come from?
A contracted or dialectal pronunciation of ordinary.
Questions about saying ornery
How do you pronounce ornery?
Say OR-nuh-ree. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔrnəri/. In British English it is /ˈɔːnəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ornery?
Ornery has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR). Broken into parts: OR · nuh · ree.
Is ornery pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈɔːnəri/ (AW-nuh-ree).