How to pronounce spying
Say it like SPY-ing. Spying 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 spying. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPY
- ing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spying 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.
- ingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of spying
American and British speakers say spying in essentially the same way: /ˈspaɪɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈspaɪɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SPY-ing.
What does spying mean?
- keeping a secret or furtive watch
- the act of keeping a secret watch for intelligence purposes
- the act of detecting something; catching sight of something
Words that rhyme with spying
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of spying.
Questions about saying spying
How do you pronounce spying?
Say SPY-ing. The American pronunciation is /ˈspaɪɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈspaɪɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spying?
Spying has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPY). Broken into parts: SPY · ing.
Do Americans and Brits say spying the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈspaɪɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈspaɪɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.