2 syllables: kid, ney. Stress on kid.
KID-nee
/ˈkɪdni/
kidney is pronounced KID-nee (/ˈkɪdni/). It has two syllables (kid-ney), with the stress on "kid". Kidney refers to either of the two bean-shaped organs that filter blood to produce urine and regulate fluid balance. The term also appears in medical contexts to describe a kidney transplant or related anatomy. In everyday use it denotes a vital organ, commonly discussed in health and anatomy, and is pronounced with a clear two-syllable rhythm and a final -ny cluster that adds a soft -ee ending.
Kidney refers to either of the two bean-shaped organs that filter blood to produce urine and regulate fluid balance. The term also appears in medical contexts to describe a kidney transplant or related anatomy. In everyday use it denotes a vital organ, commonly discussed in health and anatomy, and is pronounced with a clear two-syllable rhythm and a final -ny cluster that adds a soft -ee ending.
"The doctor asked me to monitor my kidney function with a simple urine test."
"She donated a kidney to her sister after careful evaluation."
"A kidney stone can cause sudden, severe pain and nausea."
US/UK/AU pronunciation is /ˈkɪdni/. Stress falls on the first syllable. Start with a short, clipped /k/ followed by /ɪ/ as in kit, then an unrounded /d/ with a quick release, and finish with /ni/ where /n/ is clear and the final /i/ is a light, ladylike 'ee' sound. Imagine saying 'KID-nee' with crisp consonants and a smooth transition between syllables.
Common errors include flattening the /ɪ/ to a schwa in the first syllable, producing /ˈkeɪdni/ or /ˈkɪdniː/, and blending the /dn/ cluster into a simpler /d/ or /n/ sequence. Another frequent slip is delaying the second syllable or turning /ni/ into a diphthong like /naɪ/. To correct: practice the tight /ɪ/ vowel, hold the /d/ briefly before the /n/ move, and finish with a clean /i/; use minimal pairs like kid/ kin to train the vowel clarity and /dn/ articulation.
In US and UK, the primary two-syllable rhythm remains, but US tends to be slightly more open in /ɪ/ and a crisper /d/ release. UK rhymes less with a distinctly clipped /d/, and the /i/ in -ny can be perceived closer to /iː/ in some speakers. Australian speakers often have a shorter /ɪ/ and a trailing, softer /i/ with less precise alveolar stop energy. In all, the nucleus is a short /ɪ/ and the coda /ni/ remains stable, but vowel quality and timing shift subtly by region.
The challenge lies in the /ɪ/ vowel quality and the /dn/ consonant cluster; the transition from the alveolar stop /d/ to the alveolar nasal /n/ must be tight, not skipped. For speakers of languages without a /dn/ sequence, it can feel awkward to maintain a smooth release into a light /i/. Additionally, avoiding an unintended glide in the second syllable and keeping the final /i/ crisp helps maintain naturalness. Practice with slow repetition, focusing on the mouth positions for /ɪ/ and the /d n/ cluster.
Emphasize the two-syllable rhythm by lightly stressing only the first syllable and keeping the second syllable shorter and focused on /ni/. Visualize the mouth as starting with a small, closed /k/, a brief /ɪ/ vowel, quick /d/ then a smooth /n/ into a bright /i/. Recording yourself and listening for a crisp /d/ followed by a clean /n/ helps cement the natural, native-sounding cadence.
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Kidney comes from Old English cwynan or cynd (related to a kidney, an ancient term of unknown exact origin) evolving into kidney by analogy with other body parts named for their shape or function. The exact proto-Germanic root is unclear, but the word appears in Middle English with variations that reflect non-specific organ naming. The modern form kidney solidified by the 14th century, influenced by the Old English 'cnw' cluster and Middle English preferences for two-syllable, stress-tall terms in anatomical vocabulary. Through the centuries the meaning narrowed to the bilateral organs that filter blood and maintain homeostasis, with semantic drift toward clinical contexts such as renal function, nephrology, and kidney transplants. Today it remains a staple term in anatomy and medicine, widely used in lay and professional speech alike. Historically, kidney has carried connotations of vitality and biochemistry, with first-known written attestations appearing in anatomical treatises from Europe as medical science increasingly formalized.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "kidney" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "kidney" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "kidney"
-nny sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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