How to Pronounce Pretty

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

pretty

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

6

Letters

/ˈpɹɪti/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “pretty”

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

What does pretty mean?

noun

  1. A pretty person; a term of address to a pretty person.
  2. Something that is pretty.

    “We'll stop at the knife store and look at the sharp pretties.”

verb

  1. To make pretty; to beautify

adjective

  1. Pleasant to the sight or other senses; attractive, especially of women or children, but less strikingly than something beautiful.
  2. Of objects or things: nice-looking, appealing.

Antonyms

ugly

Hear “pretty” 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 pretty

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

pitygrittydittybittiecommitteenittychittykittytittycitymutualitybitty

Related words

beautifuljollyfinebadcomelybeautynice-lookingfair

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "pretty"?▾

"Pretty" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "pretty"?▾

The IPA transcription of "pretty" is /ˈpɹɪti/.

What does "pretty" mean?▾

Pretty: A pretty person; a term of address to a pretty person.

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