How to pronounce unlucky
Say it like un-LUHK-ee. Unlucky has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LUHK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unlucky. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- un
- LUHK
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unlucky 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.
- LUHKSay 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 unlucky
American and British speakers say unlucky in essentially the same way: /ənˈlʌki/ in the US and /ʌnˈlʌki/ in the UK.
British respelling: un-LUHK-ee.
What does unlucky mean?
- having or bringing misfortune“Friday the 13th is an unlucky date”
- marked by or promising bad fortune“their business venture was doomed from the start”“an ill-fated business venture”
Where does unlucky come from?
From un- + lucky.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with unlucky
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unlucky.
Questions about saying unlucky
How do you pronounce unlucky?
Say un-LUHK-ee. The American pronunciation is /ənˈlʌki/. In British English it is /ʌnˈlʌki/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unlucky?
Unlucky has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LUHK). Broken into parts: un · LUHK · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say unlucky the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ənˈlʌki/ and the British form is /ʌnˈlʌki/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.