2 syllables: fun, ny. Stress on fun.
FUHN-ee
/ˈfʌni/
funny is pronounced FUHN-ee (/ˈfʌni/). It has two syllables (fun-ny), with the stress on "fun". Funny describes something that elicits laughter or amusement; it can refer to a humorous quality, a situation, or a person who causes laughter. In usage, it often conveys lightheartedness or peculiarity in a way that is entertaining. The word also appears in informal phrases like 'funny bone' or 'funny business.'.
Funny describes something that elicits laughter or amusement; it can refer to a humorous quality, a situation, or a person who causes laughter. In usage, it often conveys lightheartedness or peculiarity in a way that is entertaining. The word also appears in informal phrases like 'funny bone' or 'funny business.'
"That stand-up comedian was really funny."
"It's funny how the same song keeps looping in my head."
"She told a funny story about her trip to the bakery."
Pronounce as FUN-ee with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈfʌn.i/. Start with the /f/ lip + teeth, then /ʌ/ as the short 'uh' vowel, followed by /n/ with the tongue at the alveolar ridge, and finally /i/ as a short, crisp 'ee'. Keep the second syllable unstressed but audible. Watch for a quick transition between /ʌ/ and /n/ and a lightly spread lip for /i/.
Common mistakes: 1) Assuming a long /u/ sound as in 'fun' vs 'funny' with /ʌ/. 2) Over-articulating the second syllable /i/ leading to FUN-EE with exaggerated length. 3) Dropping the final /i/ or making it schwa. Corrections: keep /ʌ/ short and crisp, shorten the final vowel so it doesn’t become a separate stressed syllable, and finish with a clear /i/ rather than a muted vowel. Practicing with minimal pairs helps lock in the two-syllable pattern.
In US English, /ˈfʌn.i/ with rhotic influence in connected speech, often a quick, lightly rounded /i/. UK English tends to have a crisper /iː/ quality in some speakers, and the second syllable can be slightly reduced; Australians may merge the /i/ with a more centralized vowel and a quicker transition. Across all, the key is keeping the /ʌ/ in the first syllable prominent and maintaining a short, crisp second vowel. Listening to native samples helps refine subtle differences.
The challenge lies in keeping the first vowel short and central (/ʌ/) while avoiding a schwa or a drawn-out /ʌ/. The second syllable /i/ must be short and unstressed, not a separate long vowel. Rapid, natural speech can flatten vowels, so practice crisper transitions and consistent timing between syllables. IPA focus helps you monitor the exact mouth positions: lip rounding minimal and tongue high-front for /i/ at the end.
Yes. The two-syllable rhythm and the stark contrast between a lax first vowel (/ʌ/) and a high front second vowel (/i/) require precise timing. The mouth positions shift swiftly: a small opening for /ʌ/, then a quick glide to /i/. The common trap is a delayed or too-strong /i/, which makes it sound like 'fun-neee' instead of the crisp 'fun-nee'. Practice with connected speech to sound natural.
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Funny originates from the word 'fun' with the suffix '-ny' used to form adjectives that describe characteristic qualities. The sense 'capable of causing amusement' developed in Middle English, with analogs in other Germanic languages using -ny or -ni to form adjectives. The root 'fun' itself traces to playful activity and entertainment, which in turn broadened to the mood or effect of something pleasant or amusing. The modern sense of 'funny' as 'odd or strange' emerged by the 19th century in phrases such as 'funny business' or 'funny peculiar' before narrowing to the common humorous sense. The evolution reflects a semantic shift from mere entertainment toward a broader evaluative descriptor of people or events that produce laughter or seem suspiciously odd, depending on context. First known uses appear in early modern English texts, with broader standardization by the 18th–19th centuries as literacy and printed media spread comedic language. The term remains highly productive in colloquial speech, often combining with adverbs and adjectives to intensify humorous effect or to signal peculiarity that invites laughter or scrutiny.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "funny" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "funny" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "funny"
-nny sounds
-ney sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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