2 syllables: Wor, thy. Stress on Wor.
WUR-thee
/ˈwɝði/
Worthy is pronounced WUR-thee (/ˈwɝði/). It has two syllables (Wor-thy), with the stress on "Wor". Worthy is an adjective meaning having value, merit, or importance. It describes something deserving respect, attention, or reward. In use, it often labels people, actions, or things as digne of notice or deserving of consideration.
adjectiveWorthy is an adjective meaning having value, merit, or importance. It describes something deserving respect, attention, or reward. In use, it often labels people, actions, or things as digne of notice or deserving of consideration.
"She was deemed worthy of the award after years of dedicated service."
"The team found the request worthy of serious discussion."
"Although modest, his contributions proved worthy of recognition."
Pronounce as two syllables: /ˈwɜːr.ði/ in US and UK standard accents; Australian tends to /ˈwɜː.ði/ with a slightly shorter /ɜː/. The first syllable is stressed. Start with a mid-back vowel /ɜː/ (like “fur” without rhotic coloring in non-rhotic UK), then /r/ or /ɹ/ followed by a light schwa-less glide into the unstressed second syllable /ði/ or /i/. In rapid speech, you may hear a reduced final vowel, but careful enunciation keeps /ði/ clear. Use a clean dental /ð/ for the “th” sound in the second syllable.
Common errors include saying a pure /o/ or /ɔː/ in the first syllable instead of the central /ɜː/ vowel, and hardening the second syllable into /wi/ or dropping the /ð/ sound. Another error is a clipped /ˈwɜːr/ with no following /ði/; keep the final /ði/ distinct. Correct by practicing the two distinct syllables: /ˈwɜːr/ and /ðiː/; ensure the tongue lands for /ð/ between the upper and lower teeth and that the /r/ is appropriately rhotic where your accent preserves it.
In US English, /ˈwɜːr.ði/ with rhotic /r/ and a clear /ði/ in the second syllable. UK English tends to be non-rhotic in many varieties, so the /r/ in the first syllable may be subdued and the second syllable may carry a fuller /ðiː/ or /ði/ depending on dialect. Australian typically uses /ˈwɜː.ði/ with a clear /ð/ and a mid-central /ɜː/ vowel, similar to US but with less rhotic articulation in some contexts. Accent differences mainly center on rhoticity and vowel quality rather than the underlying structure.
Two main challenges: the mid-central /ɜː/ vowel in the first syllable which is easy to tilt toward /ʊ/ or /ɜ/; and the dental fricative /ð/ in the second syllable, which requires precise tongue placement between the teeth and breath control to avoid a lisp or over-aspiration. Additionally, maintaining a light, unstressed second syllable /ði/ without turning it into /i/ or /iː/ can be tricky in fast speech. Focus on the contrast between a steady first syllable and the quiet, crisp second syllable.
For search optimization, emphasize the two-syllable pattern /ˈwɜːr.ði/. Users often search for ‘how to say worthy’ or ‘worthy pronunciation IPA.’ Providing the two-syllable stress, the /ð/ sound, and the rhythm as a quick phrase helps match voice search and written queries. Include forms with IPA and audio cues, and reference common mispronunciations so users can compare.
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US: Strong rhotic /ɹ/ in /wɜːr/; vowel /ɜː/ tends to be more centralized; second syllable /ði/ pronounced with clear dental fricative. UK: Non-rhotic typically; first syllable may have a longer /ɜː/ and a less pronounced /r/; second syllable often /ði/ with light glottal or reduced vowel in some accents. AU: Vowel similar to US, but with less rhotic emphasis in casual speech; /ð/ remains clear; slight shortening of vowels in rapid speech. IPA references help delineate these shifts; keep the second syllable distinct across all variants.
Worthy comes from Old English worthe, from werth meaning ‘worth, value,’ related to westan ‘to be strong or worth.’ The Proto-Germanic root warthaz signified value or price, connected with German wert and Dutch waard. Over time, Middle English adopted worthi to mean ‘having worth or value’ and then extended to signify persons or qualities meriting esteem. The term gradually shifted from concrete value to moral or social merit, as in “worthy of praise.” The evolution reflects a broader cultural emphasis on merit, virtue, and deserved recognition. First known use in English dates back to the 9th–11th centuries, with texts attesting to worthe and worthi in legal and literary contexts, and later standardizing in Early Modern English with the diminutive -y suffix to form adjectives describing intrinsic value or suitability. In modern usage, worthy commonly collocates with nouns like “of,” “to,” and “of merit,” emphasizing deserving status rather than purely monetary worth.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Worthy" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Worthy" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Worthy"
-ory sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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