How to pronounce wary
Say it like WER-ee. Wary has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WER
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WERSay 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 wary
American and British speakers say wary in essentially the same way: /ˈwɛri/ in the US and /ˈwɛəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: WAIR-ree.
What does wary mean?
- marked by keen caution and watchful prudence“they were wary in their movements”“a wary glance at the black clouds”
- openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
Where does wary come from?
From the adjective ware + -y.
Words that rhyme with wary
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wary.
Questions about saying wary
How do you pronounce wary?
Say WER-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɛri/. In British English it is /ˈwɛəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wary?
Wary has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WER). Broken into parts: WER · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say wary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈwɛri/ and the British form is /ˈwɛəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.