How to pronounce very
Say it like VER-ee. Very has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce very. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VER
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Very pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- VERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of very
American and British speakers say very in essentially the same way: /ˈvɛri/ in the US and /ˈvɛri/ in the UK.
British respelling: VER-ee.
What does very mean?
- precisely as stated“the very center of town”
- being the exact same one; not any other:“this is the identical room we stayed in before”“the themes of his stories are one and the same”
- used as intensifiers; real is sometimes used informally for really; rattling is informal“she was very gifted”“he played very well”
- precisely so“on the very next page”“he expected the very opposite”
Where does very come from?
Distantly cognate with Old English wǣr (“true”).
Words that rhyme with very
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of very.
Words that sound like very
Questions about saying very
How do you pronounce very?
Say VER-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈvɛri/. In British English it is /ˈvɛri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in very?
Very has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VER). Broken into parts: VER · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say very the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈvɛri/ and the British form is /ˈvɛri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as very?
Very sounds the same as vary in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.