Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

phony

/ˈfoʊni/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.35 in modern English

Syllables
pho-ny
IPA
/ˈfoʊni/
13
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own.

Informal

noun

A person who professes beliefs or opinions that they do not hold.

Informal

noun

Anything fraudulent or fake.

Informal

verb

To fake.

Informal

Example Sentences

Etymology

Of unknown origin. Perhaps an alteration of fawny (“gilt brass ring used by swindlers”) (1781), from Irish fáinne (“ring”).

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈfoʊni/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Synonyms

Antonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce phony?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfoʊni/.
What does phony mean?
Fraudulent; fake; having a misleading appearance.
Where does phony come from?
Of unknown origin. Perhaps an alteration of fawny (“gilt brass ring used by swindlers”) (1781), from Irish fáinne (“ring”).

How to pronounce phony

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “phony”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈfoʊni/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “phony”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “phony” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.