How to pronounce savvy
Say it like SAV-ee. Savvy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce savvy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SAV
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Savvy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SAVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of savvy
American and British speakers say savvy in essentially the same way: /ˈsævi/ in the US and /ˈsævi/ in the UK.
British respelling: SAV-ee.
What does savvy mean?
- get the meaning of something“Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?”
- the cognitive condition of someone who understands“he has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect”
Where does savvy come from?
Alteration of save, sabi (“to know”) (in English-based creoles and pidgins), from Portuguese sabe (“[she/he] knows”), from saber (“to know”), from Latin sapere (“to taste; to know”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying savvy
How do you pronounce savvy?
Say SAV-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsævi/. In British English it is /ˈsævi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in savvy?
Savvy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAV). Broken into parts: SAV · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say savvy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsævi/ and the British form is /ˈsævi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.