2 syllables: glas, sy. Stress on glas.
GLAS-ee
/ˈɡlæsi/
glassy is pronounced GLAS-ee (/ˈɡlæsi/). It has two syllables (glas-sy), with the stress on "glas". Glassy describes something that resembles glass in appearance, texture, or quality—smooth, hard, and often translucent or shiny. It can also metaphorically refer to a lack of warmth or emotion, or to a voice that sounds cool, flat, or unfriendly. The term typically implies a polished, almost mirror-like surface or demeanor.
Glassy describes something that resembles glass in appearance, texture, or quality—smooth, hard, and often translucent or shiny. It can also metaphorically refer to a lack of warmth or emotion, or to a voice that sounds cool, flat, or unfriendly. The term typically implies a polished, almost mirror-like surface or demeanor.
- Commonly you may smear the /æ/ into a more open /aɪ/ or slide into /æsi/; keep a crisp separation: /ˈɡlæs.i/. - The /l/ in /ɡl/ cluster needs a light touch, not a vowel-like /l/ that blends with /æ/. Maintain a clear alveolar start for /l/ after /ɡ/. - The second syllable’s /i/ should be short and unstressed; avoid a long /iː/ or /iə/ that makes the word sound like /ˈɡlæsiː/. - End with a clean /i/ or a quick, almost silent schwa preceding it if your speech tends to be clipped; do not insert extra vowels. - In connected speech, you may lose the /ɡ/ or shorten the first syllable before a following word; keep the first syllable crisp if the word is at the start of a phrase, e.g., Glassy surface.
"The telescope’s glassy lens reflected the sunlight in sharp, clear colors."
"Her glassy eyes suggested she was far away, lost in thought."
"The cereal had a glassy, glossy coating that glimmered under the light."
Glassy is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈɡlæs.i/. Primary stress falls on the first syllable. Begin with the /ɡ/ sound as in go, then /l/ with the tongue at the alveolar ridge. The /æ/ vowel is the short 'a' as in cat. The /s/ is a voiceless fricative, followed by a light, nearly schwa-like /i/ in the second syllable. In careful speech you’ll hear GLAS-ee; in fast speech, the second syllable can reduce slightly to a shorter /ɪ/ or even reduce to a syllabic consonant, but standard pronunciation remains /ˈɡlæsi/ or /ˈɡlæsiː/ depending on speaker. Audio reference: compare with similar words like “glassy-eyed” to hear the exact vowel length and the crisp /s/.”
Common mistakes include lengthening the second syllable or mispronouncing the vowel. People often say /ˈɡlæsəli/ with a full second syllable, or they replace /æ/ with /e/ as in ‘glessy’. Another frequent error is blending the /s/ with a soft /z/ due to voicing at the end of the first syllable. The fix: keep /æ/ as a clear short ‘a’ (as in cat), ensure the /s/ remains voiceless and crisp, and avoid voicing the second syllable; end with a light /i/ as in “see.” Practice the sequence: /ˈɡlæs/ + /i/ with a clean stop between syllables.”,
In US, UK and AU pronunciations, the initial /ɡl/ cluster remains the same, with primary stress on the first syllable. US and UK share /ˈɡlæs.i/ generally; however, non-rhotic accents (some UK varieties) may have a slightly clipped second syllable. Australian speakers typically maintain /ˈɡlæs.i/ but can have a broader vowel quality in /æ/, reflecting Australian vowel shifts. The rhotics don’t alter the initial syllable, but final vowel quality may be influenced by the speaker’s vowel system, sometimes sounding closer to /ˈɡlæsi/ with less vowel length, depending on pace. IPA notes: US /ˈɡlæsi/, UK /ˈɡlæsi/, AU /ˈɡlæsi/ with subtle vowel width differences and possible vowel height variation.”,
The difficulty comes from the consonant cluster /ɡl/ at the start and the short, lax vowel /æ/ followed by a crisp /s/ before a mid/front vowel. The /ɡl/ onset requires precise tongue blade contact and rapid transition to /æ/. The /s/ must stay voiceless while the second syllable begins with a light /i/, which can tempt speakers to add a voiced vowel. Maintaining syllable boundary while keeping the /æs/ crisp helps avoid a blended or mis-timed second syllable. Practicing with minimal pairs and slow enunciation helps; use a hard onset and a clean /s/ before a high-front vowel.”,
Glassy-tip question: In careful articulation, you should avoid turning the second syllable into a separate vowel like /ə/ or /ɪ/ that lengthens the word. Instead, keep /æ/ in the first syllable and a crisp, light /i/ in the second, so the word remains two syllables with even energy. Position the tongue close to the alveolar ridge for /t/—no, we don’t have /t/; keep the tongue near the alveolar ridge for /l/ and /æ/ while ensuring the /s/ is unvoiced. (This question is kept in the FAQ as a “glassy”-specific nuance.)
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- US: maintain rhotics by pronouncing /ɡl/ cluster clearly, and keep /æ/ bright and open; the /i/ in the second syllable is often reduced slightly in rapid speech. IPA: /ˈɡlæs.i/. - UK: similar to US, but the second syllable may be a touch shorter; keep /æ/ consistent; non-rhoticism doesn’t change the word’s structure but can affect surrounding vowels. IPA: /ˈɡlæs.i/. - AU: vowel quality tends to be broader; keep /æ/ with a slightly more open jaw; final /i/ can be a bit more 'ee' than a pure /i/. IPA: /ˈɡlæs.i/. - Common across accents: ensure the /s/ remains voiceless and crisp; avoid inserting a voiced vowel between /s/ and /i/. - Visual cues: practice in front of mirror to ensure the /ɡ/ is clean and the lips stay relatively closed at onset before an open /æ/ jaw drop. - Reference: IPA transcriptions help, use them alongside hearing examples to align your mouth movements with the phonetic targets.
Glassy comes from glass, the transparent or translucent substance made from silica, typically glass has a long history in technology and ornament. The adjective form likely developed in Middle English or Early Modern English to describe things related to glass (surface, appearance, or texture). The root word glass itself traces to the Old English glaes, related to the Proto-Germanic glaisam, and is connected to similar terms in other Germanic languages. The sense of “smooth, bright, or shiny like glass” emerged as a descriptive extension to objects that visually resemble transparent glass or possess a glass-like finish. By the 16th–17th centuries, glassy began to appear in figurative uses, describing things that look or feel polished, slick, or with the cold, hard quality associated with glass. Over time, it broadened to include figurative senses such as “glassy-eyed” or “glassy surface,” as well as material-appearance descriptions in different contexts like cosmetic finishes or surfaces in design. First known attestations appear in early modern texts discussing objects with glass surfaces and reflective qualities, later expanding into more metaphorical uses in literature and everyday speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "glassy" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "glassy" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "glassy"
-ssy sounds
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