How to Pronounce Shy

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

shy

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

3

Letters

/ʃaɪ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “shy”

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

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

What does shy mean?

noun

  1. An act of throwing.
  2. A place for throwing.

    “coconut shy”

verb

  1. To avoid due to timidness or caution.

    “I shy away from investment opportunities I don't understand.”

  2. To jump back in fear.

    “The horse shied away from the rider, which startled him so much he shied away from the horse.”

adjective

  1. Easily frightened; timid.
  2. Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach.

    “He is very shy with strangers.”

Antonyms

audaciousboldbrazenextrovertedgregariousoutgoing

Hear “shy” 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 shy

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

wryexemplifyrectifyhighlieapplyfortifyawrymollifyamplifynullifycry

Related words

timiddiffidentdeficientinsufficientunsureunconfidentwarybashful

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "shy"?▾

"Shy" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "shy"?▾

The IPA transcription of "shy" is /ʃaɪ/.

What does "shy" mean?▾

Shy: An act of throwing.

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