How to pronounce osprey
Say it like OS-pree. Osprey has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce osprey. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OS
- pree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Osprey pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- preeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of osprey
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: OS-pray.
What does osprey mean?
- A bird of prey of genus Pandion that feeds on fish and has white underparts and long, narrow wings each ending in four finger-like extensions.
- Aigrette (ornamental feather).
Where does osprey come from?
From Late Middle English ospray, from Anglo-Norman ospriet, from Medieval Latin avis praedae (“bird of prey”), a generic term apparently confused with this specific bird in Old French on its similarity to ossifrage.
Questions about saying osprey
How do you pronounce osprey?
Say OS-pree. The American pronunciation is /ˈɑspri/. In British English it is /ˈɒspreɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in osprey?
Osprey has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OS). Broken into parts: OS · pree.
Is osprey pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈɒspreɪ/ (OS-pray).