How to Pronounce Happy

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

happy

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying happy, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

1

Syllable

5

Letters

/ˈhæpiː/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “happy”

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

What does happy mean?

noun

  1. A happy event, thing, person, etc.

noun

  1. Preceded by the: happy people as a group.

verb

  1. Often followed by up: to become happy; to brighten up, to cheer up.
  2. Often followed by up: to make happy; to brighten, to cheer, to enliven.

Synonyms

happify

Hear “happy” 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 happy

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

sappyunhappysnappynappyslaphappyscrappyhappipappychappychappiestrappyflappy

Related words

pleasedblissfulcontentgladcontentedjoyfuleuphoricjoyous

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "happy"?▾

"Happy" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "happy"?▾

The IPA transcription of "happy" is /ˈhæpiː/.

What does "happy" mean?▾

Happy: A happy event, thing, person, etc.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “happy” in the full dictionary →