How to pronounce tawdry
Say it like TAW-dree. Tawdry has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tawdry. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TAW
- dree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tawdry pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- dreeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of tawdry
American and British speakers say tawdry in essentially the same way: /ˈtɔdri/ in the US and /ˈtɔːdri/ in the UK.
British respelling: TAW-dree.
What does tawdry mean?
- Of clothing, appearance, etc., cheap and gaudy; showy.
- Of a character, behavior, or situation, etc., unseemly, base, mean-spirited, shameful.
Where does tawdry come from?
Shortened from tawdry lace; originally a corruption and rebracketing of Saint Audrey lace (from Old English Æðelþrȳð).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying tawdry
How do you pronounce tawdry?
Say TAW-dree. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɔdri/. In British English it is /ˈtɔːdri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tawdry?
Tawdry has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TAW). Broken into parts: TAW · dree.
Do Americans and Brits say tawdry the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtɔdri/ and the British form is /ˈtɔːdri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.