How to pronounce persnickety
Say it like per-SNIK-ih-tee. Persnickety has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SNIK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce persnickety. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- SNIK
- ih
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Persnickety pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- perKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- SNIKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of persnickety
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: puh-SNIK-ih-tee.
What does persnickety mean?
- US standard form of pernickety.
Where does persnickety come from?
From Scots persnickety, whence also pernickety.
Questions about saying persnickety
How do you pronounce persnickety?
Say per-SNIK-ih-tee. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈsnɪkɪti/. In British English it is /pəˈsnɪkɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in persnickety?
Persnickety has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SNIK). Broken into parts: per · SNIK · ih · tee.
Is persnickety 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 /pəˈsnɪkɪti/ (puh-SNIK-ih-tee).