Abnormally means in a way that deviates from what is usual, typical, or expected. It describes something that is not normal, irregular, or exceptional in degree or frequency. The term is often used in scientific, medical, or formal contexts to indicate abnormality or deviation from a standard pattern.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/; keep the /ɔːr/ vowel rounded and the /r/ pronounced; - UK: non-rhotic or weak rhotic; the /r/ may be barely audible; ensure the /ɔː/ vowel is broad and the final -ly is a light consonant cluster; - AU: similar to US but with slightly flatter vowel and quicker cadence; stress remains on NOR. IPA references: US /əbˈnɔːrməli/, UK /əbˈnɔːməli/, AU /əbˈnɔːmiːli/.
"Her blood test results were abnormally high, prompting further investigation."
"The patient displayed an abnormally rapid heartbeat that required immediate attention."
"Researchers noted abnormally low temperatures in the data, which skewed the overall analysis."
"The wind speed was abnormally strong for this region, causing travel advisories."
Abnormally comes from the combination of the prefix ab- (away from, away) and the adjective normal, with the adverbial suffix -ly. Normal itself derives from Latin normalis (rule, carpenter’s square, aligned) from norma (a carpenter’s rule, standard). The prefix ab- signals deviation or separation, attaching to normal to form abnormal, whose sense widened to describe anything that strays from standard expectations. In English, -ly turns an adjective into an adverb or adjective describing manner, giving abnormally the sense of doing something in an abnormal manner. The earliest uses of abnormal appear in Middle English after Latin influence, but adverbial abnormally becomes common in scientific and formal writing by the 19th and 20th centuries as disciplines demanded precise qualifiers of deviation from the norm. The word has since proliferated in medical, psychological, statistical, and general descriptive contexts to denote irregularity or anomaly, retaining a primarily negative or cautionary tone when describing phenomena. First known use in literary or formal medical texts traces to the 1800s, aligning with the rise of modern clinical language and standardized reporting. In contemporary usage, abnormally is a standard modifier for degrees of departure from normal patterns, often signaling notable or significant deviation.
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Words that rhyme with "abnormally"
-lly sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Stress falls on the second syllable: /əbˈnɔːrməli/ (US/UK). Start with a quick schwa in the first syllable, then a clear secondary beat on NOR, followed by -mal- and -ly. In rapid speech, the middle /r/ and final /l/ can be lightly blended; keep the /n/ clear before the /ɔːr/. Listen for the 2-syllable core 'NOR' being prominent, with a relaxed ending.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (misplacing stress on a- or mal-), conflating /ɔːr/ with /ɒ/ in UK pronunciation, and ending with a less distinct -ly or swallowing the final /i/ sound. Correct by accenting the NOR syllable, maintaining a clear /n/ and /ɔːr/ cluster, and ensuring the final -ly carries a light, quick schwa or /i/ depending on pace. Practice slowly to lock the rhythm.
In US and UK, the nucleus /ˈnɔːr/ is similar, but rhoticity affects the r-coloring: US /ɔːr/ is rhotic with clear r, UK often non-rhotic or weaker r sounds depending on region, and AU may be closer to US but with flatter /ɔː/ and a slightly quicker -ly ending. The first syllable remains unstressed with a schwa /ə/. IPA guides: US /əbˈnɔːrməli/, UK /əbˈnɔːməli/, AU /əbˈnɔːmiːli/ with subtle vowel height differences.
The difficulty lies in coordinating a multi-syllable rhythm with a strong central nucleus on NOR, plus the cluster /nɔːr/ that demands a precise back-rounded mid-vowel followed by an /r/ in many accents. Speakers often misplace stress or shorten the middle syllable, blending NOR with mal- or -ly. Focusing on the open schwa at the start and a crisp NOR can reduce ambiguity.
Is there a silent letter in abnormally? No; all letters are pronounced in the standard forms: the sequence /əbˈnɔːrməli/ includes /b/, /ˈnɔːr/, /m/, and /li/ with an audible -ly. The trick is the second syllable stress and the /ɔːr/ vowel rounded quality. Ensure the middle /r/ is not silent in rhotic accents and that the final -ly receives a light, quick ending.
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