4 syllables: an, nu, al, ly. Stress on an.
AN-yoo-uh-lee
/ˈænjuəli/
annually is pronounced AN-yoo-uh-lee (/ˈænjuəli/). It has four syllables (an-nu-al-ly), with the stress on "an". Annually means occurring once every year or on a yearly basis. It is used to describe events, reports, or obligations that recur each year. The word emphasizes the annual frequency and is common in formal writing and budgeting contexts.
Annually means occurring once every year or on a yearly basis. It is used to describe events, reports, or obligations that recur each year. The word emphasizes the annual frequency and is common in formal writing and budgeting contexts.
- You may over-articulate the second syllable, turning ann-ü-ally into a stressed three-syllable word; keep the middle light. - Another common error is pronouncing the second syllable as a pure /juː/ or /ju/ sound; instead aim for /uə/ or a quick /w/ glide into the final -li. - Finally, speakers often drop the final -ly to /li/ or /liː/ with American English; ensure a light final -ly /li/ with subtle schwa before it.
"The festival is held annually in the city center."
"The company reports its profits annually to shareholders."
"We conduct an annual review of safety procedures."
Pronounce as /ˈænj.uə.li/ in broad terms, with primary stress on the first syllable. Break it into three beats: ANN-nyoo-uh-lee. In careful speech you may hear /ˈænj.ʊə.li/ with a slightly reduced middle vowel; in fast speech it can blend to /ˈænjʊli/. Mouth position: start with a open front lax vowel, then a light “nyu” sequence, finish with a light “ə-lee.” Audio references: consult Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries for spoken examples.
Two frequent errors are misplacing the stress and slurring the middle syllable. You might say AN-nuh-lee or ann- YOO-uh-lee with over-emphasized second syllable. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈænj.uə.li/; make the middle /uə/ a quick, lax combination rather than a full vowel. Practice with slow, deliberate syllables before increasing speed.
In US, UK, and AU accents, the initial /æ/ in the first syllable is similar, but rhotic accents in US may influence the vowel quality slightly toward a more centralized /æː/ in connected speech. The /j/ sequence after the first vowel is consistent; Australians may exhibit a slightly shorter /ə/ in the final syllable and a more centralized final vowel. Overall, the rhythm remains iambic-leaning with three light syllables after the stressed first one.
The difficulty centers on the three-syllable sequence with a light, unstressed ending and the /nj/ cluster that requires precise tongue movement. The /æ/ vowel in the first syllable can shorten in rapid speech, changing perceived strength. Also, the /ə/ and /li/ endings can blend in fast speech, creating /ˈænjuli/ if you’re not careful with the final -ly. Focus on crisp middle vowel and clear onset of -li.
A distinctive element is the three-syllable rhythm where the first syllable carries primary stress while the second and third are relatively light, with a quick transition into the final /li/. The middle syllable /uə/ should not be a full diphthongized vowel; keep it compact as /uə/ or /ə/ depending on pace. In connected speech, the suffix -ally can sound like -li with a schwa glide, especially in US casual speech.
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- US: emphasize rhoticity subtly; the /r/ is not present here, but the vowel quality of /æ/ may be slightly retracted. Ensure the middle /uə/ is relaxed and not overly rounded. - UK: Keep a slightly longer middle schwa and a clipped final /li/. The /ju/ sequence may slide to /jù/ depending on speed. - AU: Tend toward a shorter final vowel and a staccato final /li/, with a lighter overall rhythm. Maintain three-syllable cadence with similar stress. IPA references: US /ˈænj.uə.li/; UK /ˈænj.uə.li/; AU /ˈænjɪli/ (varies).
Annually derives from the adjective annual, which comes from Old French annuel, from Latin annus meaning year. The transition from the noun/adj to the adverbial form retained the core sense of year-related frequency. The earliest English attestations of annual occurred in the late Middle English period, with the sense of recurring every year. The adverbial form annually emerged as a precise facet of frequency, particularly in formal registers such as financial, legal, and bureaucratic language. The evolution reflects a shift from describing something related to a year to specifying its recurrence with yearly regularity. Through centuries, annually has remained a fixed adverb that modifies verbs to indicate yearly occurrence, unaffected by regional dialects, though pronunciation has varied slightly across English varieties as with many Latinate adverbs.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "annually" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "annually" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "annually"
-nny sounds
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