English pronunciation · Words Starting with V

Very Pronunciation

Very is pronounced VE-ree, IPA /ˈvɛri/.

VE-ree

US /ˈvɛri/  ·  UK /ˈvɛri/

Syllables: VE · ree (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)

adverb and adjective: To a high degree, or used to emphasise that something is exactly the thing meant.

Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.

Very in a Sentence

  • The water was very cold.
  • This is the very book I was looking for.
  • She arrived at the very last moment.

Common Mispronunciations of Very

Not WE-ree

Press the lower lip against the top teeth and let the voice hum through. Rounding the lips instead gives a w, which is the single most noticeable change learners make to this word.

Not VE-ruh-ree

Two beats, and the r belongs to the second one. A vowel between the r and the ee turns the word into three.

Tip: Very and vary are homophones for most American speakers, and British speech keeps vary a shade longer.

More words starting with v · Every word in the pronunciation guide