What is easy? Pronunciation and usage in English

easy means . Learn how to pronounce and use easy through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of easy

easyadjective

/ˈiːzi/
Definition & pronunciation of easy

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "easy" in English! It's a tricky one for some learners. Here’s a breakdown:

The most common and correct pronunciation is:

  • /iːzi/ (This is the standard American English pronunciation)

Let’s break that down further:

  • "iː" – This is the long "ee" sound, as in “see” or “tree.” It's a longer vowel sound.
  • "zi" – This is a quick, single "z" sound, like in "zebra."

Here’s how it sounds (you can use online tools to hear it):

Common Mistakes:

  • "eezy" (with a short "e"): This is a very common mistake, especially for beginners. It’s incorrect.
  • Slowing it down: The “zi” part needs to be quick and compact.

Tips:

  • Focus on the long "ee" sound. Really stretch out the vowel.
  • Practice saying it quickly: The "zi" part should be a fast, single sound.

To help me tailor the explanation even more, could you tell me:

  • What dialect of English are you interested in? (American, British, Australian, etc.) - While the /iːzi/ pronunciation is standard in American English, British English might have a slightly different nuance.

Usage and examples with the word easy in English

Let's break down how to use the word "easy" in English. It's a very common and versatile word, but it can be tricky because it has so many different nuances! Here's a breakdown by category:

1. Describing Difficulty (The Most Common Use)

  • Simple/Easy: This is the most frequent usage. It means not difficult or requiring much effort.

    • "This homework is easy." (It's not hard.)
    • "Learning to ride a bike was easy for him." (He didn't struggle.)
    • "The instructions were very easy to follow." (They were straightforward.)

  • Easygoing: Describes a person who is relaxed and not difficult to deal with.

    • "She's an easygoing person – she doesn’t get stressed easily."
    • "He's an easygoing roommate, which is great."

  • Easy target: Someone or something that is easily attacked or exploited.

    • "The thief was an easy target because he was alone."

2. Describing Actions & Processes

  • Easy to do: Means simple to accomplish.

    • "It's easy to make this cake." (It doesn't require much skill or effort.)
    • "It's easy to understand the instructions." (They're clear.)

  • Easy access: Means it's simple to reach or obtain.

    • "The park has easy access to the river." (It’s easily reached.)

  • Easy payment: Means convenient and simple to pay.

    • “We offer easy payment plans.”

3. Describing Characteristics (Often with “be” verb)

  • Easy on the eyes: Pleasant to look at.

    • "The landscape is easy on the eyes."

  • Easy on the wallet: Not expensive.

    • "This restaurant is easy on the wallet."

  • Easy to digest: (Of food) Not difficult to break down in the stomach.

    • "This soup is easy to digest."

4. Expressing Agreement/Acceptance (Informal)

  • Easy! (As a response of agreement or encouragement)
    • "Can you help me with this?" "Easy!" (Sure, I can.)

Important Notes & Nuances:

  • Overuse: "Easy" is a common word, so be careful not to overuse it. Sometimes, a more specific word will be stronger.
  • Context is Key: The meaning of “easy” depends heavily on the context.
  • Alternatives: If you want to avoid using “easy,” consider these alternatives:
    • Simple
    • Straightforward
    • Effortless
    • Convenient
    • Manageable

Example Sentences (Combining Different Uses):

  • "Learning to code is easy for some people, but it takes a lot of practice." (Difficulty)
  • “The recipe is easy to follow, and the ingredients are easy on the wallet.” (Process & Characteristics)
  • "He’s an easygoing guy, so it's easy to get along with him." (Personality & Process)

To help me give you more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you thinking about using "easy" in? (e.g., writing an essay, speaking in a conversation, describing a situation)?
  • Can you give me an example sentence you’re trying to write or a situation you want to describe where you're considering using "easy"?

Synonyms for the word easy

Idioms of the word easy

as easy as anything/as pie/as ABC/as falling off a log
(informal)very easy or very easily
  • The whole procedure is as easy as ABC.
  • Fooling him was as easy as falling off a log.
an easy/a soft touch
(informal)a person that you can easily persuade to do something, especially to give you money
  • Unfortunately, my father is no easy touch.
easy meat
a person who seems easy to defeat or cheat
  • Rogue traders saw elderly people as easy meat for overcharging.
easy money
(informal)money that you get without having to work very hard for it
    easy on the ear/eye
    (informal)pleasant to listen to or look at
    • The room was painted in soft pastels that were easy on the eye.
    an/a/the easy/soft option
    (often disapproving)a choice that is thought to be easier because it involves less effort, difficulty, etc.
    • They are anxious that the new course should not be seen as an easy option.
    • He decided to take the easy option and give them what they wanted.
    free and easy
    informal; relaxed
    • Life was never going to be so free and easy again.
    have an easy ride | give somebody an easy ride
    (informal)to not experience difficulties when you are doing something; to make things easy for somebody
    • He was not given an altogether easy ride at the interview.
    have an easy time (of it)
    to have no difficulties or problems
    • He’s had an easy time of it since he married Lucy.
    I’m easy
    (informal)used to say that you do not have a strong opinion when somebody has offered you a choice
    • ‘Do you want to watch this or the news?’ ‘Oh, I'm easy. It's up to you.’
    of easy virtue
    (old-fashioned, disapproving)willing to have sex with anyone
    • a woman of easy virtue
    on easy street
    (old-fashioned, informal)enjoying a comfortable way of life with plenty of money
      take the easy way out
      to end a difficult situation by choosing the simplest solution even if it is not the best one
      • He took the easy way out and didn’t go to the meeting.
      • She took the easy way out and paid someone to write the article for her.
      within (easy) reach (of something)
      close to something
      • The house is within easy reach of schools and sports facilities.
      • Verona and Padua are both within easy reach for day trips.
      • a holiday town within reach of Marseilles

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