How to pronounce pesky
Say it like PES-kee. Pesky has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pesky. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PES
- kee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pesky pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- keeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of pesky
American and British speakers say pesky in essentially the same way: /ˈpɛski/ in the US and /ˈpɛski/ in the UK.
British respelling: PES-kee.
What does pesky mean?
- Annoying, troublesome, irritating (usually of an animal or child).“Stay out of my yard, you pesky kids!”
Where does pesky come from?
Possibly from pesty. Compare similar alteration between nasty and nasky.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying pesky
How do you pronounce pesky?
Say PES-kee. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɛski/. In British English it is /ˈpɛski/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pesky?
Pesky has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PES). Broken into parts: PES · kee.
Do Americans and Brits say pesky the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpɛski/ and the British form is /ˈpɛski/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.