How to pronounce wry
Say it like RY. Wry is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wry. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wry pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of wry
American and British speakers say wry in essentially the same way: /raɪ/ in the US and /raɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: RY.
What does wry mean?
- Turned away, contorted (of the face or body).
- Dryly humorous; sardonic or ironic, usually in a way that suggests acknowledgement of a problem or difficult situation.
- Twisted, bent, crooked.
- To twist or contort (the body, face, etc.).
- Distortion.
Where does wry come from?
From Middle English wrien, from Old English wrīġian (“to go, turn, twist, bend, strive, struggle, press forward, endeavor, venture”), from Proto-Germanic *wrigōną (“to wriggle”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreyḱ- (“to turn, wrap, tie”), from
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with wry
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wry.
Words that sound like wry
Questions about saying wry
How do you pronounce wry?
Say RY. The American pronunciation is /raɪ/. In British English it is /raɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wry?
Wry is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: RY.
Do Americans and Brits say wry the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /raɪ/ and the British form is /raɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as wry?
Wry sounds the same as rye in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.