Prety vs. Pretty — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 21, 2024
"Prety" is a misspelling, while "Pretty" is correct. Pretty describes something as attractive or pleasing in a delicate way.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Prety or Pretty
How to spell Pretty?
Prety
Incorrect Spelling
Pretty
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Think of "pretty" as a word with extra beauty, hence the extra 't'.
Remember "pretty" has two 't's, just like "kitty" or "butter."
"Prety" looks incomplete, like it's missing something—because it is!
Associate "pretty" with symmetry; two 't's balance the word.
Envision “pretty” flowers having two petals in the middle.
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How Do You Spell Pretty Correctly?
Incorrect: She has a prety collection of seashells.
Correct: She has a pretty collection of seashells.
Incorrect: I think the garden looks prety in the spring.
Correct: I think the garden looks pretty in the spring.
Incorrect: That's a very prety dress you're wearing.
Correct: That's a very pretty dress you're wearing.
Incorrect: It was a prety difficult exam, but I think I passed.
Correct: It was a pretty difficult exam, but I think I passed.
Incorrect: He did a prety good job on the presentation.
Correct: He did a pretty good job on the presentation.
Pretty Definitions
Pretty can be used informally to emphasize a certain amount.
I was pretty surprised by the news.
Pretty, when referring to someone, denotes attractiveness in a delicate way.
The child has a pretty smile.
It can also describe something as being fairly or moderately.
The task was pretty difficult.
Pretty can be used to soften a statement.
That's a pretty big assumption to make.
Pretty can refer to something being aesthetically pleasant.
The flowers in the garden looked pretty.
(of a person, especially a woman or child) attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful
A pretty little girl with an engaging grin
Used ironically to express annoyance or displeasure
He led me a pretty dance
To a moderately high degree; fairly
He looked pretty fit for his age
It was a pretty bad injury
An attractive thing, especially a trinket
He buys her lots of pretties—bangles and rings
Make pretty or attractive
She'll be all prettied up and ready to go in an hour
Pleasing or attractive in a graceful or delicate way.
Clever; adroit
A pretty maneuver.
Very bad; terrible
In a pretty predicament.
A situation that has reached a pretty pass.
Ostensibly or superficially attractive but lacking substance or conviction
Full of pretty phrases.
(Informal) Considerable in size or extent
A pretty fortune.
To a fair degree; moderately
A pretty good student.
In a pretty manner; prettily or pleasingly.
One that is pretty.
Pretties Delicate clothing, especially lingerie.
To make pretty
Pretty up the house.
Pleasant to the sight or other senses; attractive, especially of women or children.
Of objects or things: nice-looking, appealing.
Fine-looking; only superficially attractive; initially appealing but having little substance; see petty.
Cunning; clever, skilful.
(dated) Moderately large; considerable.
(dated) Excellent, commendable, pleasing; fitting or proper (of actions, thoughts etc.).
(ironic) Awkward, unpleasant.
Somewhat, fairly, quite; sometimes also (by meiosis) very.
(dialect) Prettily, in a pretty manner.
A pretty person; a term of address to a pretty person.
Something that is pretty.
We'll stop at the knife store and look at the sharp pretties.
To make pretty; to beautify
Pleasing by delicacy or grace; attracting, but not striking or impressing; of a pleasing and attractive form a color; having slight or diminutive beauty; neat or elegant without elevation or grandeur; pleasingly, but not grandly, conceived or expressed; as, a pretty face; a pretty flower; a pretty poem.
This is the prettiest lowborn lass that everRan on the greensward.
Moderately large; considerable; as, he had saved a pretty fortune.
Affectedly nice; foppish; - used in an ill sense.
The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant in the world.
Mean; despicable; contemptible; - used ironically; as, a pretty trick; a pretty fellow.
Stout; strong and brave; intrepid; valiant.
[He] observed they were pretty men, meaning not handsome.
In some degree; moderately; considerably; rather; almost; - less emphatic than very; as, I am pretty sure of the fact; pretty cold weather.
Pretty plainly professes himself a sincere Christian.
Pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing;
Pretty girl
Pretty song
Pretty room
(used ironically) unexpectedly bad;
A pretty mess
A pretty kettle of fish
Used as an intensifier (`jolly' is used informally in Britain);
Pretty big
Pretty bad
Jolly decent of him
Pretty Meaning in a Sentence
That was a pretty impressive speech he gave.
I'm pretty sure I left my keys on the table.
It's pretty cold outside, so wear a coat.
The flowers make the room look pretty.
The movie was pretty good, though not the best I've seen.
That exam was pretty hard, wasn't it?
She looks pretty in that blue dress.
He managed to solve the puzzle pretty quickly.
That's a pretty big commitment to make.
The garden is pretty at this time of year.
She has a pretty way of smiling that lights up her face.
The story was pretty interesting, with a few unexpected twists.
I'm pretty happy with how the project turned out.
It's pretty unusual to see them agree on something.
The view from the hill is pretty spectacular.
The new paint makes the house look pretty nice.
The situation is pretty complicated, so we need to think carefully.
I find these puzzles pretty challenging.
The crowd was pretty large at the concert.
He's pretty good at playing the guitar.
He's doing pretty well in his new job.
It's pretty common for him to forget his phone.
I'm pretty tired after the long hike.
She's pretty keen on learning to dance.
That's a pretty old car, but it still runs well.
Pretty Idioms & Phrases
Pretty much
Almost; very nearly.
We've pretty much finished the project, just a few small things left.
Pretty as a picture
Extremely attractive or appealing.
The garden looked as pretty as a picture with all the flowers in bloom.
Pretty up
To make something look prettier or more attractive, often through decoration or cleaning.
Let's pretty up the room before our guests arrive.
Pretty please
A playful or cajoling way of asking for something.
Can I have another scoop of ice cream, pretty please?
Pretty penny
A large amount of money.
That antique vase must have cost a pretty penny.
All pretty and no cattle
Appearing attractive or promising but lacking substance or quality.
The new restaurant is all pretty and no cattle, with its chic decor but mediocre food.
Make it pretty
To enhance the appearance of something to make it more attractive.
The designer was asked to make it pretty by adding some colorful illustrations to the layout.
Sitting pretty
In a good situation; well-off or comfortable.
After the inheritance, they were sitting pretty and didn't have to worry about finances.
Pretty boy
A man who is very good looking, often with the implication that he is not very masculine.
He's known as the pretty boy of the group because of his good looks.
Not a pretty sight
Something that looks unpleasant or unattractive.
After the storm, the garden was not a pretty sight.
Common Curiosities
Which vowel is used before Pretty?
The vowel "e" is commonly used before "pretty."
What is the pronunciation of Pretty?
Pretty is pronounced as /ˈprɪt.i/.
Why is it called Pretty?
The term "pretty" comes from Old English "prættig" (cunning), related to "præt" (trick), which evolved in meaning over time.
Which preposition is used with Pretty?
"In" can be used (as in "pretty in pink").
What is the singular form of Pretty?
"Pretty" itself is singular.
Is Pretty a negative or positive word?
"Pretty" is generally perceived as a positive word.
What is the root word of Pretty?
The root originates from the Old English word "prættig."
What is the verb form of Pretty?
"Pretty" doesn't have a direct verb form.
Which conjunction is used with Pretty?
No specific conjunction is exclusively tied to "pretty."
Which article is used with Pretty?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "pretty" depending on the context.
What is the plural form of Pretty?
As an adjective, "pretty" doesn't have a plural form. However, when used as a noun meaning a pretty person, the plural would be "pretties."
Is the Pretty term a metaphor?
"Pretty" by itself is not a metaphor, though it can be used in metaphorical expressions.
Is the word Pretty imperative?
No, "pretty" is not imperative.
How do we divide Pretty into syllables?
It is divided as pret-ty.
Which determiner is used with Pretty?
Determiners like "this," "that," "my," "his," "her," etc. can be used with "pretty."
Is the word Pretty a gerund?
No, "pretty" is not a gerund.
Is the word “Pretty” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Pretty" is primarily an adjective and doesn't function as a direct or indirect object.
What part of speech is Pretty?
"Pretty" is primarily an adjective and can also be an adverb.
Is Pretty an abstract noun?
No, "pretty" is not an abstract noun.
Is Pretty a vowel or consonant?
"Pretty" is a word containing both vowels and consonants.
What is a stressed syllable in Pretty?
The first syllable "pret" is stressed in "pretty."
What is the first form of Pretty?
"Pretty" does not have verb forms.
What is the third form of Pretty?
"Pretty" does not have verb forms.
Is Pretty a noun or adjective?
"Pretty" is primarily an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun informally.
Is Pretty an adverb?
Yes, "pretty" can be used as an adverb meaning "quite" or "fairly" (e.g., "pretty good").
Is Pretty a collective noun?
No, "pretty" is not a collective noun.
How is Pretty used in a sentence?
"She wore a pretty dress to the party."
Is Pretty a countable noun?
When used as an informal noun (a pretty person), it can be countable. Otherwise, as an adjective, it's not countable.
How many syllables are in Pretty?
"Pretty" has two syllables.
What is another term for Pretty?
Another term for "pretty" is "beautiful."
What is the opposite of Pretty?
The opposite of "pretty" can be "ugly" or "plain."
What is the second form of Pretty?
"Pretty" does not have verb forms.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
