al-fuh-BET-ik-lee
/ˌælfəˈbɛtɪkli/
alphabetically is pronounced al-fuh-BET-ik-lee (/ˌælfəˈbɛtɪkli/). Alphabetically refers to arranging items in order according to the letters of the alphabet. The word is used when describing data, lists, or classifications that follow A to Z sequencing. It can function as an adverb or adjective, often preceding nouns (e.g., "alphabetically sorted files"), and emphasizes systematic, letter-based ordering.
Alphabetically refers to arranging items in order according to the letters of the alphabet. The word is used when describing data, lists, or classifications that follow A to Z sequencing. It can function as an adverb or adjective, often preceding nouns (e.g., "alphabetically sorted files"), and emphasizes systematic, letter-based ordering.
"The names are listed alphabetically by surname."
"We organize the chapters alphabetically to help readers find topics quickly."
"Alphabetically sorted data makes it easier to compare values at a glance."
/ˌæl.fəˈbɛt.ɪ.kəl.i/ in US and UK dictionaries, with primary stress on the third syllable: al-fə- BET- i- cal- ly. Break it into syl-lables: al-pha-bet-i-cal-ly; emphasis lands on BET (the -et- unit) with secondary stress on the 'al' and 'cal' portions in fluent speech. Ensure the /æ/ in first syllable, /ə/ schwa in the second, and clear /t/ before the /ɪ/ in the fourth syllable. You’ll hear a brief pause or light vowel reductions in rapid speech but keep the /b/ and /t/ distinct for clarity.
Common errors: 1) Flattening the vowel of the second syllable to a flat /æ/ or /ʌ/, making it sound like 'al-bET-ih-kəl-lee'—correct by using a clear /ə/ or /ɪ/ in the unstressed syllables. 2) Misplacing stress, saying al-PHAB- e-ti- cal- ly or over-emphasizing the wrong syllable; fix with rhythm practice that traces a 3-syllable beat to the core stressed syllable /ˈbɛt/. 3) Slurring the '-ically' into '-ick-lee', which reduces intelligibility; practice by isolating the '-i-ca-ly' sequence and pronouncing /-ɪ.kə.li/ distinctly.
US: rhotic, with a strong /r/ only when followed by a vowel; stress on /ˈbɛt/; clear /æ/ in first syllable. UK: non-rhotic; may drop trailing r sounds, and vowels can be slightly clipped; emphasis still on the /bɛt/ syllable. AU: similar to General US but with broader vowels in some speakers; final /li/ may be lighter and quicker. Across all, the main differences are vowel qualities and the presence or absence of rhoticity in coda position; the primary stress remains on -bet-.
The difficulty stems from the long, multi-syllabic structure: a sequence of stressed and unstressed vowels, the /æ/ to /ə/ shift, and the consonant cluster /b/ followed by /ɪ/ and /k/ in a row. The softening of the latter consonants and maintaining distinct syllabic boundaries can be tricky, especially when speaking rapidly; focus on isolating the stressed /ˈbɛt/ and keeping the -i- and -cal- segments clearly enunciated.
A unique aspect is the tri-syllabic rhythm around the central /bɛt/ segment, with a light, subsequent /ɪ/ and /k/ leading into /əl/ and the final /i/ or /li/. Visualize the word as three beats: al-pha- BET- i- cal- ly; keep the central nucleus strong and ensure the following weak syllables don’t swallow the consonants.
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US: emphasize rhotic voice if a following vowel; UK: reduce rhoticity, keep vowels crisp but non-rhotic; AU: mild rhoticity with more centralized vowels; IPA references: US /ˌæl.fəˈbɛt.ɪ.kə.li/, UK /ˌæl.fəˈbet.ɪ.kəl.i/, AU /ˌæl.fəˈbet.ɪ.kə.li/. Focus on keeping /æ/ in first syllable, schwa in the second, and the strong /ˈbɛt/; let the trailing -ly be lighter but audible.
Alphabetically derives from alphabet, which comes from the Latin alphabetum, itself borrowed from the Greek alphabetos. The Greek term traces further to alpha and beta, the first two letters of their alphabet, and ultimately from the Phoenician aleph and beth, symbols originally denoting sounds and later used to label characters in a system of order. The suffix -ically is a productive English derivational ending forming adverbs or adjectives indicating manner or relationship. The earliest English usage of alphabetize (to arrange in alphabetical order) appears in the 15th century, with alphabetically as a derivative by the 17th–18th century, aligning with scientific and administrative discourses that demanded standardized, letter-based ordering. Over time, as catalogs, indexes, and data tables proliferated, alphabetically became a common descriptor across domains—from library science to information technology—preserving its core sense of A-to-Z sequencing while adapting to digital and formal writing conventions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "alphabetically" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "alphabetically"
-lly sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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