2 syllables: a, pply. Stress on pply.
uh-PLEYE
/əˈplaɪ/
apply is pronounced uh-PLEYE (/əˈplaɪ/). It has two syllables (a-pply), with the stress on "pply". Apply denotes the act of putting something to use or implementing a plan, idea, or tool. It can also mean making a formal request for something, such as a job or admission. In everyday use, it often emphasizes the action of bringing methods, knowledge, or materials into operation or consideration. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words).
Apply denotes the act of putting something to use or implementing a plan, idea, or tool. It can also mean making a formal request for something, such as a job or admission. In everyday use, it often emphasizes the action of bringing methods, knowledge, or materials into operation or consideration. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words)
"Please apply the formula to the dataset to obtain the results."
"She decided to apply for a scholarship after finishing her degree."
"You should apply sunscreen before you go outside."
You pronounce it as /əˈplaɪ/ in US, UK, and AU accents. The first syllable is a reduced schwa, the second syllable carries the primary stress with the /aɪ/ diphthong like in 'pie'. Mouth: start with a relaxed jaw, then raise the front of the tongue for the /l/ followed by a smooth glide into /aɪ/. See examples in audio dictionaries for precise mouth shapes.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (tra- byte) and misarticulating the final diphthong as /ɪ/ or /iː/. Another mistake is reducing the second syllable too much, turning /aɪ/ into /ɪ/. To correct: keep primary stress on the second syllable, articulate the /plaɪ/ as a clear /pl/ followed by /aɪ/ with a smooth, short l, and practice with minimal pairs like ‘ply’ vs ‘plying’ to feel the tongue path.
All three accents share /əˈplaɪ/ with the same rhotic or non-rhotic tendencies affecting surrounding vowels, but rhoticity influences adjacent sounds in connected speech. In General American, the /ɹ/ may influence the following vowel subtlety in rapid speech, while in UK and AU non-rhotic contexts may drop r-like cues. The diphthong /aɪ/ remains a rising vowel in all, but duration and vowel coloring can vary slightly; listen for a crisper /aɪ/ in US due to pace and enunciation differences.
The word balances a reduced first syllable with a stressed, tight final diphthong /aɪ/, which is easy to over-simplify in rapid speech. The /pl/ cluster requires precise articulation to avoid blending into a blurred /plaɪ/. Also, the /ɹ/ or lack thereof depends on accent, changing preceding vowel quality in connected speech. Keeping the schwa steady and practicing the /ɪ/ to /aɪ/ glide helps prevent common slurring.
No. The letter 'p' in apply is never silent. The sound sequence is the consonant cluster /pl/ transitioning into the diphthong /aɪ/. In careful speech you’ll hear an audible /p/ followed by /l/ before the /aɪ/. In very rapid speech some speakers may have a slight elision or quicker transition, but phonemically there is always /p/ present before the /l/.
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The verb apply originates from the Old French appleiier, formed from a combination of ap- (toward, to) and leier (to bind, to tie). It surfaced in Middle English around the 14th century with senses related to laying on or spreading something. The core idea evolved from placing something onto a surface, to making use of a principle or method, and finally to making a formal request (as in apply for a job). In the 17th–18th centuries, Western European languages reinforced the sense of applying rules or laws to situations, and by the 19th century, “apply” broadened in common usage to include applying for positions, scholarships, or admissions. The spelling has remained stable, though pronunciation variants emerged regionally in line with English vowel shifts, especially the Great Vowel Shift’s aftermath that influenced stressed syllable vowels. First known use in English literature appears in legal and scholastic contexts where applying laws or statutes was discussed, gradually expanding into modern usage across professional and everyday language.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "apply" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "apply" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "apply"
-ply sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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