2 syllables: might, y. Stress on might.
MEYE-tee
/ˈmaɪti/
mighty is pronounced MEYE-tee (/ˈmaɪti/). It has two syllables (might-y), with the stress on "might". Mighty is an adjective meaning possessing great power, strength, or influence; it can also function as an intensifier, as in 'mighty fine' or 'mighty helpful.' It often carries a somewhat archaic or poetic tone in modern speech. The base form is two syllables, with primary stress on the first syllable. In many contexts, it implies magnitude or awe rather than exact physical power.
Mighty is an adjective meaning possessing great power, strength, or influence; it can also function as an intensifier, as in 'mighty fine' or 'mighty helpful.' It often carries a somewhat archaic or poetic tone in modern speech. The base form is two syllables, with primary stress on the first syllable. In many contexts, it implies magnitude or awe rather than exact physical power.
"The mighty river carved its course through the valley."
"He summoned mighty courage to face the challenge."
"The team delivered a mighty performance to win the championship."
Pronounce as /ˈmaɪ.ti/ with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with the diphthong /aɪ/ as in 'my,' then transition to a clear /ti/ with a light, almost clipped release. The second syllable should be noticeably shorter than the first. In careful speech, ensure the /t/ is an enabled alveolar stop, not a tap. For audio reference, listen to standard American/British pronunciations of /maɪti/ in reputable dictionaries.
Two frequent errors: 1) Slurring into /ˈmaɪdɚ/ by making the second syllable sound like a vowel-shifted /ɚ/ instead of /ti/. 2) Reducing the /t/ or turning it into a flap in quick speech, yielding /ˈmaɪdi/ or /ˈmaɪɾi/. Correction: keep the /t/ as a crisp alveolar stop [t], give the second syllable a brief, crisp /i/ vowel, and avoid blending the syllables into a single elongated vowel. Practice with controlled tempo to sustain two clear syllables.
US/UK/AU share /ˈmaɪ.ti/ with primary stress on the first syllable; rhoticity is not a factor here since /r/ isn’t present. Differences lie in vowel quality: US tends to a slightly tenser /aɪ/ and clipped /ti/; UK might have a marginally more centralized /i/ and less released /t/ in casual speech; AU often shows a more relaxed /i/ and can exhibit glottalization of /t/ in some dialects. Overall, the core structure remains two clear syllables, but timing and vowel length subtly shift.
Key challenges: the diphthong /aɪ/ can be mispronounced as a pure /a/ or mis-timed syllable transition; the /t/ must be a crisp alveolar stop, not a softened flapped variant in rapid speech; the second syllable’s /i/ should be short and orderly rather than swallowed in the first vowel. Coordinating the two syllables so the /t/ remains distinct while maintaining natural rhythm is the main difficulty. Practice with controlled tempo and deliberate enunciation helps.
A unique facet is that mighty functions as both an adjective and an adverbial intensifier in many dialects (for example, mighty fine). This dual role can influence pronunciation slightly, especially when used playfully or colloquially; the primary stress remains on the first syllable, but in strong, emphatic usage the speaker might lengthen the first vowel slightly for emphasis while keeping the second syllable tight. IPA reference remains /ˈmaɪ.ti/.
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Mighty derives from Old English mihtig, formed from miht (power, strength) + -ig, a suffix forming adjectives. The root miht is cognate with German Macht and Dutch macht, all reflecting strength and capability. Early uses appear in Old English poetry and prose to describe gods, warriors, or monumental things (e.g., mighty oaks, a mighty army). The semantic field broadened to describe human attributes (mighty hero, mighty deeds) and emissions of intensity (mighty fine). By Middle English, mighty also served as a general intensifier, akin to very or extremely, though this usage remains somewhat regional and stylistically marked. In modern English, mighty as an adjective typically denotes substantial power, while as an adverbial intensifier (mighty good) retains a conversational, emphatic flavor more common in informal registers. First known printed attestations appear in late Old English/early Middle English texts, with evolving spellings like mihtig, mighty, and magnified by influences from Norse and Norman French. The word’s endurance shows how a concept of strength can anchor both literal and metaphorical praise, embedded in literature and everyday speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "mighty" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "mighty"
-hty sounds
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