How to pronounce skinny
Say it like SKIN-ee. Skinny has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKIN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce skinny. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKIN
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Skinny pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKINSay 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 skinny
American and British speakers say skinny in essentially the same way: /ˈskɪni/ in the US and /ˈskɪni/ in the UK.
British respelling: SKIN-ee.
What does skinny mean?
- being very thin“a child with skinny freckled legs”“a long scrawny neck”
- of or relating to or resembling skin
- fitting snugly“a tightly-fitting cover”“tight-fitting clothes”
- confidential information about a topic or person“he wanted the inside skinny on the new partner”
Where does skinny come from?
From Middle English skinny (“resembling skin”), equivalent to skin + -y.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with skinny
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of skinny.
Questions about saying skinny
How do you pronounce skinny?
Say SKIN-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈskɪni/. In British English it is /ˈskɪni/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in skinny?
Skinny has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKIN). Broken into parts: SKIN · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say skinny the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈskɪni/ and the British form is /ˈskɪni/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.