Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

drowsy

/ˈdɹaʊzi/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.82 in modern English

Syllables: drowsy
IPA: /ˈdɹaʊzi/

13

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Inclined to drowse; heavy with sleepiness

adj

Causing someone to fall sleep or feel sleepy; lulling; soporific.

adj

adj

Example Sentences

"I was feeling drowsy and so decided to make a cup of coffee to try to wake myself up."
"It was a warm, drowsy summer afternoon."
"drowsy medicine"
"The narrative throughout holds the reader; it Is not a drowsy book."
"... the hoofbeats of the mule made a sound as drowsy as a fly's buzz on a summer afternoon."

Etymology

From drowse + -y, despite the fact that drowsy (1520) is recorded before drowse (1570). Compare Old English drūsian (“to droop, drowse, become languid”).

Origin

Source language: Old English

Word Breakdown

Root: drūsian

Inflected Forms

drowsier (comparative) drowsiest (superlative)

Derived Forms

drowsihead drowsily drowsiness nondrowsy

Phrases

non-drowsy

Synonyms

lethargic dozy adrowse bedroomy dopey dragging one's tail drowsy eyelids at half-mast nodding off oscitant out of steam sleepbound

Rhymes With

lousy dalhousie blowsy frowzy frouzy

Questions

How do you pronounce drowsy?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdɹaʊzi/.
What does drowsy mean?: Inclined to drowse; heavy with sleepiness
Where does drowsy come from?: It is traced to Old English.

How to pronounce drowsy

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