How to pronounce worthy
Say it like WUR-thee. Worthy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce worthy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WUR
- thee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Worthy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- theeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of worthy
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WUR-thee.
What does worthy mean?
- having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable“a worthy fellow”“a worthy cause”
- worthy of being chosen especially as a spouse“the parents found the girl suitable for their son”
- having qualities or abilities that merit recognition in some way“behavior worthy of reprobation”“a fact worthy of attention”
- an important, honorable person (word is often used humorously)“he told his story to some conservative worthies”“local worthies rarely challenged the chief constable”
Where does worthy come from?
From Middle English worthy, wurthi, from Old English *weorþiġ (“worthy”), equivalent to worth + -y.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying worthy
How do you pronounce worthy?
Say WUR-thee. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɝði/. In British English it is /ˈwɜːði/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in worthy?
Worthy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WUR). Broken into parts: WUR · thee.
Is worthy pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈwɜːði/ (WUR-thee).