2 syllables: am, ply. Stress on am.
AM-plee
/ˈæmpli/
amply is pronounced AM-plee (/ˈæmpli/). It has two syllables (am-ply), with the stress on "am". AmPLY is an adverb meaning to a great extent or abundantly, often implying sufficiency or generosity in a given amount or provision. It conveys fullness or ample supply, frequently used to describe quantities, resources, or evidence that meet or exceed a need. Proper pronunciation is short-stressed and clearly enunciated to avoid sounding overly formal or clipped.
AmPLY is an adverb meaning to a great extent or abundantly, often implying sufficiency or generosity in a given amount or provision. It conveys fullness or ample supply, frequently used to describe quantities, resources, or evidence that meet or exceed a need. Proper pronunciation is short-stressed and clearly enunciated to avoid sounding overly formal or clipped.
"The garden was amply watered after the storm."
"Her salary is amply sufficient to cover all expenses."
"They were amply rewarded for their efforts."
Pronounce it as AM-pli, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU ˈæm.pli. The first vowel is the short a as in 'cat,' followed by an 'm' consonant, then a light 'lee' sound in the second syllable. Keep the second syllable unstressed and short, producing a clean, brisk AM-pli rather than 'am-puh-lee.' A quick reference: think of 'amp' + 'lee' but with a short i. You can listen to native usage on Pronounce or YouGlish to confirm.
Common errors include broadening the second syllable to 'am-plee' or 'am-plye' and misplacing stress as AM-plee. The correct form keeps the second syllable unstressed as 'am-pli' and avoids syllable-twist like 'AM-ply' with equal emphasis. Another frequent error is reducing the first vowel to a schwa in careful speech; keep the /æ/ as in 'cat' for the first syllable. Practice with minimal pairs like 'amp' vs 'am' to anchor the /æ/ sound, and use a light, clipped ending to maintain the brisk tempo.
In US English, the first syllable is /æ/ with a crisp /m/ and a short, unstressed /li/; the second vowel remains a soft /ɪ/ in fast speech, but careful speech preserves /li/ as /liː/. In UK English, /æ/ is similar but may have a marginally shorter /ɪ/ in the second syllable; rhoticity is not a factor here. Australian English tends to be similar to US with a slightly flatter vowel in the first syllable and a less pronounced final /i/; the /ɪ/ in the second syllable may approach /i/ in rapid speech. Overall, the main differences lie in vowel quality and the degree of vowel reduction in the second syllable.
The difficulty stems from maintaining a crisp initial /æ/ and avoiding a prolonged or drawn-out second syllable. The contrast between /æ/ and the short /ɪ/ in the second syllable requires precise tongue position and timing. Keeping the first syllable strong while the second remains light helps prevent a clipped or muffled ending. For non-native speakers, the challenge is coordinating a fast, natural transition from /æ/ to /m/ to /li/ with a reduced vowel. Working on rhythm and stress helps solidify accurate pronunciation.
A unique aspect is the weakly stressed second syllable /li/ that makes the word feel quick and efficient in fluent speech. The first syllable carries the full /æm/ onset, but the second syllable remains lightly articulated, almost a syllabic stop in rapid speech. The transition from /æ/ to /m/ to /li/ should be smooth, with no extra vowel in between. Paying attention to the short, crisp second syllable will help you sound natural in both formal and informal contexts.
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Amply derives from the Latin amplus, meaning 'full, ample, spacious,' which passed into Old French as ample and then Middle English. The root am- conveys abundance, fullness, and sufficiency. The sense of fullness—'more than enough'—solidified in English by the 15th century, with amply appearing as an adverbial form by the early modern period. The word aligns with related adjectives like ample, which share the same Latin lineage. The phonetic shape of amply (AMP-ly) preserves the original emphasis on the syllable boundary after the initial stressed syllable, mirroring the Latin-derived cadence that English speakers have carried into contemporary usage. Over time, amply has maintained a formal but versatile tone, suitable for both academic prose and polished everyday speech, though it remains less common in casual conversation compared to synonyms like 'enough' or 'quite a bit.' The evolution reflects a shift from a primarily descriptive meaning of fullness to a nuanced adverb indicating sufficiency across contexts, especially in analytical writing and precise communication.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "amply" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "amply" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "amply"
-tly sounds
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