STAWR-mee
/ˈstɔɹmi/
stormy is pronounced STAWR-mee (/ˈstɔɹmi/). Stormy is an adjective describing weather characterized by wind, rain, or storms, or figuratively turbulent or unsettled in mood or events. It conveys a sense of rough, unsettled conditions, often implying frequent changes or intensity. In speech, it is pronounced with two syllables and the primary stress on the first syllable.
Stormy is an adjective describing weather characterized by wind, rain, or storms, or figuratively turbulent or unsettled in mood or events. It conveys a sense of rough, unsettled conditions, often implying frequent changes or intensity. In speech, it is pronounced with two syllables and the primary stress on the first syllable.
"The forecast calls for stormy weather this weekend, with strong winds and heavy rain."
"Her mood grew stormy after the argument, turning from calm to volatile."
"The sea was stormy, making the boat ride rough and noisy."
Pronounce as STOR-mee with two syllables. The primary stress is on the first syllable: /ˈstɔːr.mi/ in US/UK/AU representations. Start with an open-mid back rounded vowel in the first syllable, then a clear /r/ (rhotic in US, non-rhotic in many UK contexts unless linking). Finish with a bright /i/ as in 'me'. If you’re linking, you may hear a slight blend into the second syllable. Audio examples: many dictionaries and Forvo entries provide native-speaker realizations.
Common mistakes include stressing the second syllable (stoR-my) and shortening the vowel in the first syllable, producing /ˈstɔr.mi/ with a weak first vowel. Also, some learners omit the /r/ in non-rhotic accents, saying /ˈstɔːmi/; ensure the /r/ is pronounced in rhotic accents. Another frequent error is the final /i/ becoming a schwa; aim for a clear /i/ as in 'mee'. Practice with minimal pairs like stormy/stormy- something to feel the vowel and consonant differences.
In US English, /ˈstɔːr.mi/ with rhotic /r/ and a clear /ɔː/ in the first syllable, pronounced longer and with a more pronounced r. In UK English, non-rhotic variants may lead to a weaker or silent /r/ before a consonant, so /ˈstɔː.mi/ with less rhotic coloring in careful speech but often a linking /r/ when followed by a vowel. Australian English typically has a broad /ɔː/ in the first vowel and a relatively full /r/ if linking, yielding /ˈstɔː.mi/ or /ˈstɔːmi/ depending on context. Acoustic differences center on rhoticity and vowel quality.
The difficulty often lies in balancing the first vowel length and quality with the rhotic /r/ in American speech, and preventing a reduced or omitted /r/ in non-rhotic British variants. Learners may also fuse the /r/ with the following /m/ or misproduce the final /i/ as a schwa. Achieving a clean two-syllable rhythm with the force on the first syllable and a crisp final /i/ requires controlled mouth posture, precise tongue position for the /ɔː/ vowel, and intact contact for the /r/ in rhotic accents.
A useful nuance is the linking phenomenon in rapid speech: in connected speech, you may hear /ˈstɔːr.mi/ followed by a vowel starting word, with a subtle /r/ kept for cohesion in US English. In careful UK articulation, maintain a non-rhotic /r/ and a slightly shorter /ɔː/ to avoid a heavy, drawn-out first syllable. The two-syllable pattern with STORM- then -y remains consistent; focus on maintaining a clear separation yet smooth transition when speaking quickly.
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Stormy comes from the noun storm, from Old English storm, related to Dutch storm and German Sturm, with the suffix -y added to form an adjective meaning ‘characterized by storms or storm-like conditions.’ The basic sense emerged in Middle English as a descriptor of weather events (a stormy day) and extended metaphorically to moods or situations that resemble a storm in intensity or volatility. The word aligns with Proto-Germanic roots *sturmaz, indicating pressure and turmoil, and shares lineage with related adjectives forming from nouns via the -y suffix in English. The adjectival use to mean ‘full of storms or tumult’ is well established by the 14th–15th centuries, while its figurative senses (stormy relationship, stormy seas) developed as maritime culture popularized vivid weather imagery in speech and literature. In contemporary usage, stormy remains common in both literal meteorological descriptions and metaphorical contexts, retaining a vivid sense of movement, force, and unsettled energy.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "stormy" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "stormy" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "stormy"
-rmy sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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