Learn How to Pronounce donkey

Not sure how to say a word? Try the Promova pronunciation tool for free and learn how to pronounce anything in English correctly. Discover over 100,000 words and easily learn English pronunciation online!

Find your word:

Find how to pronounce a word and practice it in our free word pronouncer for English learners!

How to pronounce:

Listen to the pronunciation:

donkey

Definition:

(nou) the symbol of the Democratic Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874 (nou) domestic beast of burden descended from the African wild ass; patient but stubborn

Phonetic Transcription:

ˈdɒŋki

Examples:

The outback is home to the Australian feral camel, donkey and dingo.

Domesticated animals included the guinea fowl and the donkey.

It should simply be the male donkey is the sire and the horse is the dam.

Learn more about:
donkey

Related Words:

animal

horse

camel

How to perfect your pronunciation of: donkey

Learn Individual Sounds

Break donkey down into individual sounds such as ˈdɒŋki. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.

Copy Others

Use the tools above to find out how different people say donkey in their accents, then try to repeat after them.

Pick an Accent

Avoid mixing word pronunciations. If you’re learning American English, stick to it and try not to confuse yourself with British pronunciation.

Record Yourself

Say donkey in the pronunciation tool as many times as it takes before you get it right. Record yourself saying different sentences with donkey.

Get a Native Tutor

Improve your pronunciation with native speakers! Practice with American, British, and Australian teachers on Promova.

Common mistakes of donkey pronunciation

Stress misplacement: Some learners place stress incorrectly on the second syllable, saying "don-KEE". The correct pronunciation is "ˈdɒŋ.ki" (UK) and "ˈdɑŋ.ki" (US). Tip: Remember to emphasize the first syllable.
Vowel confusion: Many mispronounce the first vowel, saying "dawn-key" instead of "donkey". The correct vowel sound is a short "o" as in "hot". Tip: Focus on the "ɒ" (UK) or "ɑ" (US) sound to avoid this mistake.
Silent letters: Some may incorrectly pronounce the "k" in "donkey" as a hard "k" sound, leading to "don-key". The correct pronunciation features a soft "k" sound. Tip: Practice saying "donkey" smoothly to eliminate the hard "k".
Syllable omission: Learners sometimes drop the second syllable, saying "don" instead of "donkey". This leads to confusion and incorrect understanding. Tip: Always pronounce both syllables clearly: "ˈdɒŋ.ki" (UK) or "ˈdɑŋ.ki" (US).
Incorrect ending sound: Some pronounce "donkey" with a long "e" sound, resulting in "donkee". The correct ending is a short "i" sound. Tip: Practice with words like "key" vs. "ki" to differentiate the sounds.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "donkey" in American English?

In American English, "donkey" is pronounced as /ˈdɔŋki/. The primary stress is on the first syllable, which sounds like "dawn," and the second syllable is pronounced with a short "kee."

Is there a difference in the pronunciation of "donkey" between British and American English?

Yes, in British English, "donkey" is pronounced as /ˈdɒŋki/, where the first syllable sounds like "don" with a short "o." In American English, the first syllable has a more open sound, resembling "dawn."

What is the syllable breakdown for the word "donkey"?

The word "donkey" has two syllables: "don" and "key." The first syllable is stressed, while the second syllable is pronounced more lightly.

Are there any common mistakes when pronouncing "donkey"?

A common mistake is misplacing the stress, which may lead to saying "don-key" instead of "DON-key." Remember to emphasize the first syllable to pronounce it correctly.