How to pronounce spicy
Say it like SPY-see. Spicy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce spicy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPY
- see
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spicy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- seeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of spicy
American and British speakers say spicy in essentially the same way: /ˈspaɪsi/ in the US and /ˈspaɪsi/ in the UK.
British respelling: SPY-see.
What does spicy mean?
- producing a burning sensation on the taste nerves“hot salsa”“jalapeno peppers are very hot”
- suggestive of sexual impropriety“a blue movie”“blue jokes”
Where does spicy come from?
From spic(e) + -y. First attested in the 16th century.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with spicy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of spicy.
Questions about saying spicy
How do you pronounce spicy?
Say SPY-see. The American pronunciation is /ˈspaɪsi/. In British English it is /ˈspaɪsi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spicy?
Spicy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPY). Broken into parts: SPY · see.
Do Americans and Brits say spicy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈspaɪsi/ and the British form is /ˈspaɪsi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.