How to pronounce thorny
Say it like THOR-nee. Thorny has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce thorny. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- THOR
- nee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Thorny pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- neeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of thorny
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: THAW-nee.
What does thorny mean?
- Having thorns or spines.
- Troublesome or vexatious.“thorny issues”
- Aloof and irritable.
Where does thorny come from?
From Middle English thorny, þorny, þorni, from Old English þorniġ, from Proto-West Germanic *þornag.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with thorny
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of thorny.
Questions about saying thorny
How do you pronounce thorny?
Say THOR-nee. The American pronunciation is /ˈθɔrni/. In British English it is /ˈθɔːni/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thorny?
Thorny has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THOR). Broken into parts: THOR · nee.
Is thorny 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 /ˈθɔːni/ (THAW-nee).