2 syllables: Can, dy. Stress on Can.
KAN-dee
/ˈkændi/
Candy is pronounced KAN-dee (/ˈkændi/). It has two syllables (Can-dy), with the stress on "Can". Candy is a sweet, sugar-based treat, typically small and palatable, often formed into bars, pieces, or cubes. It is used both as food and colloquially to describe something attractive or appealing. The term spans confections, lollies, and sweets in various English-speaking regions and carries a light, familiar connotation in everyday speech.
nounCandy is a sweet, sugar-based treat, typically small and palatable, often formed into bars, pieces, or cubes. It is used both as food and colloquially to describe something attractive or appealing. The term spans confections, lollies, and sweets in various English-speaking regions and carries a light, familiar connotation in everyday speech.
"I bought some candy for the movie night."
"Her costume was cute and candy-colored, bright and cheerful."
"The kids traded candy after the party."
You pronounce it CAN-dy with the first syllable stressed. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈkæn.di/. The mouth opens slightly for /æ/ (as in cat), then a relaxed /n/, followed by a clear /d/ and a short /i/ vowel. Keep the /i/ light and avoid drawing it out. Listen for a crisp, quick second syllable. Audio reference: you can compare with similar words like
Common mistakes include pronouncing the first vowel as /eɪ/ (as in 'cane') or spluttering the /d/ into a more staccato articulation. Another error is making the second syllable too long or adding an extra vowel sound, producing /ˈkæn.diː/ or /ˈkændi/. Correction: keep /æ/ crisp, /n/ immediately followed by /d/ without an epenthetic vowel, and finish with a short /i/ like in 'sit'. Ensure stress remains on the first syllable.
In US and AU, /ˈkæn.di/ with a bright /æ/; the /r/ is not involved since no rhotic link. In UK, /ˈkæn.di/ remains similar, but you might hear slightly less tenseness in the /æ/ depending on the speaker. The final /i/ is short in all; the key variation is vowel length and intonation rather than phoneme change. In fast speech, US and AU speakers may reduce to /ˈkæni/ in casual contexts, but standard pronunciation keeps two distinct syllables.
The challenge lies in producing a crisp /æ/ vowel quickly, then transitioning to the voiced alveolar /d/ without inserting an extra vowel. Non-native speakers often mismerge the /n/ and /d/ or elongate the second syllable. Practice with minimal pairs like CAN-dy vs. CANE-dee, and use slow-to-fast tempo drills to ensure a clean /æ/ and a precise /d/ release in /di/. IPA reference: /ˈkæn.di/.
A unique concern is avoiding a 'candy' sound like 'candy' with a schwa in the second syllable, which can happen when speaking quickly. Focus on a crisp /di/ rather than /də/. Ensure the tip of the tongue taps the alveolar ridge for /d/ and finishes with a quick /i/ as in 'sit'. Close attention to the consonant boundary helps prevent linking that softens the /d/ too much.
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Candy derives from Old French tendre; the English term originates in the late Middle English period, evolving from the medieval word for “cane sugar” or “sugar confection.” The root concept is tied to spiced or sugared confections, influenced by Arabic and Persian trade routes that introduced crystalline sugar to Europe. The form candy is often associated with the living language’s playful diminutive, and by the 16th century it referred to candied goods broadly. The modern sense of a sugary confection attaches to the 17th–18th centuries, when mass-produced confections and boiled sugar candies became common, particularly in Britain and its colonies. In American English, “candy” broadened to include a wide range of sugar-based sweets, while in British usage “sweets” is more common, though “candy” appears in specific contexts (imported products, marketing, and certain American-style treats). The term’s first known uses are scattered in culinary and trade-related writings, with the concept of a sugary, pleasant edible item dating back centuries as sugar became more accessible and popular in Europe and the Americas.
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Words that rhyme with "Candy"
-ndy sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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