How to pronounce privy
Say it like PRIV-ee. Privy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRIV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce privy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PRIV
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Privy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PRIVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of privy
American and British speakers say privy in essentially the same way: /ˈprɪvi/ in the US and /ˈprɪvi/ in the UK.
British respelling: PRIV-ee.
What does privy mean?
- An outdoor facility for urination and defecation, whether open (latrine) or enclosed (outhouse).
- A lavatory: a room with a toilet.
- A toilet: a fixture used for urination and defecation.
- With knowledge of; party to; let in on.“He was privy to the discussions.”
Where does privy come from?
From Middle English pryvy, prive, from Old French privé (“private”), from Latin prīvātus (“deprived”), perfect passive participle of prīvō (“to bereave, deprive; to free, release”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with privy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of privy.
Questions about saying privy
How do you pronounce privy?
Say PRIV-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈprɪvi/. In British English it is /ˈprɪvi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in privy?
Privy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRIV). Broken into parts: PRIV · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say privy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈprɪvi/ and the British form is /ˈprɪvi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.