How to Pronounce Espy

To pronounce "espy", say ESPY — one syllable, IPA /ɪˈspaɪ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

espy

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/ɪˈspaɪ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “espy”

"espy" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with crespi and espey, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: espey — easy to mix up when writing.

What does espy mean?

verb

  1. To catch sight of; to see; to spot (said especially of something not easy to see)

    “to espy a man in a crowd”

  2. To examine and keep watch upon; to watch; to observe.

Hear “espy” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with espy

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

crespiespeygillespiegillispie

Related words

descryspyspotobservediscovernoticeperceivesight

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "espy"?▾

"Espy" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "espy"?▾

The IPA transcription of "espy" is /ɪˈspaɪ/.

What does "espy" mean?▾

Espy: To catch sight of; to see; to spot (said especially of something not easy to see)

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