How to pronounce pygmy
Say it like PIG-mee. Pygmy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pygmy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PIG
- mee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pygmy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PIGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- meeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of pygmy
American and British speakers say pygmy in essentially the same way: /ˈpɪɡmi/ in the US and /ˈpɪɡmi/ in the UK.
British respelling: PIG-mee.
What does pygmy mean?
- A member of various legendary races of dwarfs, or supernatural peoples of diminutive stature.
- A member of one of various tribal peoples of the Congo Basin in equatorial Africa, notable for their very short stature.
- Also applied to various other peoples of short stature.
- Relating or belonging to the Pygmy people.
- Unusually short or small for its kind, especially in the names of animals and plants.
Questions about saying pygmy
How do you pronounce pygmy?
Say PIG-mee. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɪɡmi/. In British English it is /ˈpɪɡmi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pygmy?
Pygmy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIG). Broken into parts: PIG · mee.
Do Americans and Brits say pygmy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpɪɡmi/ and the British form is /ˈpɪɡmi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.