How to pronounce uncanny
Say it like un-KAN-ee. Uncanny has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce uncanny. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- un
- KAN
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Uncanny pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- KANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of uncanny
American and British speakers say uncanny in essentially the same way: /ənˈkæni/ in the US and /ənˈkæni/ in the UK.
British respelling: un-KAN-ee.
What does uncanny mean?
- Strange, and mysteriously unsettling (as if supernatural); weird.“He bore an uncanny resemblance to the dead sailor.”
- Something that is simultaneously familiar and strange, typically leading to feelings of discomfort.
Where does uncanny come from?
From un- + canny; thus “beyond one's ken,” or outside one's familiar knowledge or perceptions.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with uncanny
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of uncanny.
Questions about saying uncanny
How do you pronounce uncanny?
Say un-KAN-ee. The American pronunciation is /ənˈkæni/. In British English it is /ənˈkæni/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in uncanny?
Uncanny has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAN). Broken into parts: un · KAN · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say uncanny the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ənˈkæni/ and the British form is /ənˈkæni/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.