How to Pronounce Tardy

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

tardy

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Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

/ˈtɑːdi/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “tardy”

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

What does tardy mean?

noun

  1. A piece of paper given to students who are late to class.

    “The teacher gave her a tardy because she did not come into the classroom until after the bell.”

  2. An instance of a student being marked as tardy by a teacher in his or her attendance sheet.

verb

  1. To make tardy.

adjective

  1. Late; overdue or delayed.

    “He yawned, then raised a tardy hand over his mouth.”

  2. Moving with a slow pace or motion; not swift.

Synonyms

belateddelayed

Hear “tardy” 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 tardy

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

foolhardyhardycardilardyyardiecardi-cardiebardycardyshardyhardipardy

Related words

belatedlateunpunctualoverdueslowdelayedretardeddelay

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "tardy"?▾

"Tardy" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "tardy"?▾

The IPA transcription of "tardy" is /ˈtɑːdi/.

What does "tardy" mean?▾

Tardy: A piece of paper given to students who are late to class.

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