How to pronounce prickly
Say it like PRIK-lee. Prickly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRIK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce prickly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PRIK
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Prickly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PRIKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of prickly
American and British speakers say prickly in essentially the same way: /ˈprɪkli/ in the US and /ˈprɪkli/ in the UK.
British respelling: PRIK-lee.
What does prickly mean?
- Covered with sharp points.“The prickly pear is a cactus; you have to peel it before eating it to remove the spines and the tough skin.”
- Easily irritated; thorny.“He has a prickly personality. He doesn't get along with people because he is easily set off.”
- Difficult; complicated; hairy or thorny.“It was a prickly situation.”
- In a prickly manner.
- Something that gives a pricking sensation; a sharp object.
- A person who favors formal, structured, organized settings.
Where does prickly come from?
From prickle + -y.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with prickly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of prickly.
Questions about saying prickly
How do you pronounce prickly?
Say PRIK-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈprɪkli/. In British English it is /ˈprɪkli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in prickly?
Prickly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRIK). Broken into parts: PRIK · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say prickly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈprɪkli/ and the British form is /ˈprɪkli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.