How to pronounce puny
Say it like PYOO-nee. Puny has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PYOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce puny. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PYOO
- nee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Puny pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PYOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- neeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of puny
American and British speakers say puny in essentially the same way: /ˈpjuni/ in the US and /ˈpjuːni/ in the UK.
British respelling: PYOO-nee.
What does puny mean?
- Of inferior significance, size, or strength; ineffective, small, weak.“You puny earthlings are no match for Ming the Merciless!”
- (Frequently) ill; poorly, sickly.
Where does puny come from?
A respelling of puisne, from Anglo-Norman puisné (“later, more recent; junior; weakly”) [and other forms] and Middle French puisné (“born after (a specified person); younger, youngest; one who is born after (a specified person)”) (modern Fr
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with puny
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of puny.
Questions about saying puny
How do you pronounce puny?
Say PYOO-nee. The American pronunciation is /ˈpjuni/. In British English it is /ˈpjuːni/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in puny?
Puny has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PYOO). Broken into parts: PYOO · nee.
Do Americans and Brits say puny the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpjuni/ and the British form is /ˈpjuːni/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.