How to pronounce touchy
Say it like TUHCH-ee. Touchy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TUHCH).
- TUHCH
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Touchy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TUHCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of touchy
American and British speakers say touchy in essentially the same way: /ˈtʌtʃi/ in the US and /ˈtʌtʃi/ in the UK.
British respelling: TUHCH-ee.
What does touchy mean?
- Extremely sensitive or volatile; easily disturbed to the point of becoming unstable; requiring caution or tactfulness.“It is an extremely touchy situation, with everybody's patience wearing thin.”
- Easily offended, oversensitive.“He can be very touchy when you talk about his estranged son, so be as tactful as possible.”
- Inclined to engage in physical touch.
- To touch.
Where does touchy come from?
A variant of earlier tetchy (“cranky, easily annoyed, difficult to handle”), under influence from some senses of touch (“affect, disturb”) and simulating touch + -y.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
- untouchy
Words that rhyme with touchy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of touchy.
Questions about saying touchy
How do you pronounce touchy?
Say TUHCH-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈtʌtʃi/. In British English it is /ˈtʌtʃi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in touchy?
Touchy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TUHCH). Broken into parts: TUHCH · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say touchy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtʌtʃi/ and the British form is /ˈtʌtʃi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.