How to pronounce thirsty
Say it like THUR-stee. Thirsty has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce thirsty. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- THUR
- stee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Thirsty pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- steeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of thirsty
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: THUR-stee.
What does thirsty mean?
- needing moisture“thirsty fields under a rainless sky”
- feeling a need or desire to drink“after playing hard the children were thirsty”
- (usually followed by for) extremely desirous“athirst for knowledge”“hungry for recognition”
Where does thirsty come from?
From Middle English thirsty, from Old English þurstiġ, from Proto-West Germanic *þurstug.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying thirsty
How do you pronounce thirsty?
Say THUR-stee. The American pronunciation is /ˈθɝsti/. In British English it is /ˈθɜːsti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thirsty?
Thirsty has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THUR). Broken into parts: THUR · stee.
Is thirsty pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈθɜːsti/ (THUR-stee).