Phonetic focus: /ˌɔːt/ vs /ɔːt/, and the unstressed -o-mat- syllables: emphasize natural stress on the third syllable: /ˌɔː.təˈmæt.ɪ.kli/
Common mispronunciations: “auto-mat-ick-lee” (over-stressing /mæt/); dropping the second syllable sound; pronouncing -ly as “lee” with full stress
Tips:
- Stress pattern: remind your mouth to lift at the third syllable: /ˌɔː.təˈmæt/ then /ɪ.kli/
- Reduce the middle /ə/ before /t/; keep /t/ crisp and light
- End with a clean, quick /kli/ cluster; avoid adding extra vowels
Quick practice: say “automatic-ly” slowly, then blend to “automatically” with natural rhythm and stress on /ˈmæt/
Master One Accent First
In US vs UK vs Australian accents, “automatically” keeps the same overall rhythm, but you’ll hear vowel quality and stress tweaks. In all, the main stress is on the third syllable: /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli/.
US: The first vowel is /ɔː/ (often a broader, rounded sound), and the second syllable “ta” tends to be quicker, with a clear /t/. The final -ly often sounds light, almost like /-li/.
UK: You’ll hear a sharper /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ in the first vowel depending on region, with flatter /æ/ in “mat” and a crisper /t/. Ending /-kli/ tends to be syllabic, with a more precise /l/ and /i/.
Australian: Vowels flatten a bit; /ɔː/ in “au-” may sound closer to /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ depending on speaker. The /t/ can be softer, and the final /li/ often blends quickly, giving a smoother, more connected feel.
Common differences: US tends to longer, rounded initial vowel; UK varies by region but often crisper consonants; Australian blends vowels for a more even, melodic flow.
Usage Examples
"The doors open automatically when motion is detected."
formaltechnology
"Your membership renews automatically each year."
conversationalbusiness
"He automatically reached for his phone when it buzzed."
informalbehavior
"The software categorizes data automatically."
academiccomputing
Word Etymology
From automatic (derived from Greek 'automatos' meaning 'self-acting') + the adverbial suffix '-ally'.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Usage Notes
Help others use "automatically" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
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Related Words
Similar Meaning (Synonyms)
mechanically
instinctively
spontaneously
unconsciously
💡 These words have similar meanings to "automatically" and can often be used interchangeably.
Opposite Meaning (Antonyms)
manually
deliberately
intentionally
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "automatically" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Rhyming Words
Words that rhyme with "automatically"
-lly sounds
systematically
dramatically
pragmatically
Pronunciation Practice
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronunciation FAQ
The word "automatically" is pronounced /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli/ with emphasis on the primary stressed syllable. Click the audio button above to hear the correct pronunciation.
"automatically" sounds like A-u-t-o-m-a-t-i-c-a-l-l-y. The pronunciation follows standard English pronunciation rules.
"automatically" is considered intermediate difficult to pronounce. This word may require some practice to master the correct pronunciation.
"automatically" is a adverb. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription for "automatically" is /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli/. This provides the most accurate pronunciation guide using standardized phonetic symbols.
Common mistakes when pronouncing "automatically" include incorrect stress placement and mispronouncing vowel sounds. Listen to the audio example above to learn the correct pronunciation.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "automatically"!
Effective Practice Techniques
Practice the full IPA: /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli/. Break it into syllables: /ˌɔː.təˈmæt.ɪ.kli/. Start slow with each chunk, then blend: "AW-tuh-MAT-uhk-lee."
Shadowing: listen to a 10–15 second native clip pronouncing automatically, then imitate exactly in real time. Match rhythm, stress, and intonation as you repeat.
Minimal pairs: contrast automatically with autonym, autonomous, automatic, autopsy. Focus on the second syllable stress shift: /ˌɔː.təˈmæt-ɪ.kli/ vs /ˌɔː.təˈmɒt-. (Note vowel nuance in /æ/ vs /ɒ/.)
Rhythm practice: place stress on the third syllable. Practice a tempo where the beat lands on "mæt" and "kli" clearly. Use a metronome at 60–70 BPM, then speed up.
Intonation and stress: primary stress on /ˈmæt/; secondary stress on the initial /ˌɔː/ and final /-li/?—keep a rising-falling curve: slight rise into /ˈmæt/ then fall through /ɪ.kli/.
Slow-then-fast reps: say it five times at half-speed, then at natural speed, ensuring every consonant is crisp, especially /t/ in /təˈmæt/.
Mouth workout: lip trill, then jaw relaxation, then repeat with focused alveolar /t/ and /t/ in /ˈmæt/.
Record and compare: overlay your reading with a native, adjust vowel length in /ˌɔː/ and the crisp /t/ release.
Phrase in context: “machines automatically adjust settings” to feel the flow and maintain the word’s prominence within a sentence.
Master the Pronunciation of "automatically"
How You Can Learn To Say "automatically" Better Introduction: Why this word deserves your focused attention You know the feeling: you can talk about automation all day, but when you say automatically, the sounds collide and the word escapes your mouth in a hesitant rush. This guide helps you tune your articulation so automatically rolls off with confident precision. As an expert learner, you’ll lean into the word’s rhythm, stress, and subtle vowel shifts that trip even advanced speakers. Phonetic snapshot and key challenges
IPA: /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli/
Primary stress: on the second-to-last syllable, MAT
Syllable breakdown: /ˌɔː.təˈmæt.ɪ.kli/
Core difficulties for many learners:
The unstressed first syllable /ˌɔː/ often reduces or shifts toward an open back vowel; aim for a wide, rounded, mid-to-low back vowel without over-relaxation.
The “tə” syllable is a quick, reduced schwa-like sound; don’t over-enunciate it.
The stressed /mæt/ must be crisp with a clear /æ/ (as in “cat”) to avoid a muffled or whispered sound.
The cluster /-ɪ.kli/ at the end can blur into a single syllable if you rush; keep the /ɪ/ light and the /kl/ combination precise. Accent differences to mind
American English: tends to have a fuller /ɔː/ in the first syllable and a strong /æ/ in MAT; the final /li/ is light, with the /l/ well articulated.
British English (Received Pronunciation): often a tighter, more clipped /ˈmæt.ɪ.kli/ with less vowel length in /ɔː/ and a touch more fronted /æ/.
Other variants: expect subtle vowel shifts in /ɔː/ (some speakers use /ɒ/ or a more open sound) and slight differences in the final /li/ onset; always anchor the primary stress on MAT. Practice techniques you can trust
Edge repetition drill:
Say slowly: /ˌɔː tə ˈmæt ɪ kli/
Increase speed by one syllable at a time while maintaining crisp consonants and accurate stress.
Minimal pair awareness:
Compare automatically with autonomically, automatically vs. automatical, automatically vs. automantically (note the incorrect vowel or stress patterns to avoid).
Vowel shaping drills:
Practice /ɔː/ with a round, open mouth; then seal the lips slightly for /ə/ in “tə”; ensure /æ/ in MAT remains open.
Consonant clearance routine:
Articulate /m/ with full bilabial closure, then promptly release into /æ/. Keep /t/ crisp and /kl/ tightly linked but not fused.
Final cluster precision:
End with a light /li/; drop the tongue slightly for a clean /l/ rather than a heavy, syllabic l. Practical exercises you can perform daily
Mirror drill (5 minutes): Say automatically slowly on a mirror; exaggerate each sound, then blend back to natural speed.
Shadowing (10 minutes): Listen to a native speaker saying automatically; mimic intonation and rhythm, focusing on stress placement.
Recording critique (weekly): Record yourself reading sentences containing automatically; annotate where stress or vowel quality shifts occur and correct in the next pass.
Tongue-twister infusion: Combine automatically with adjacent phrases to practice linking and natural cadence (e.g., “it automatically happens when…,” paying attention to smooth transitions). Resources and tools
IPA pronunciation guides and phoneme charts for /ɔː/, /ə/, /æ/, /ɪ/, /kl/
Speaking apps with cadence feedback and shadowing features
Audio dictionaries with phrase cues and stress patterns Daily integration tips
Insert automatically into technical discussions or summaries to build muscle memory.
After listening to a short technical clip, pause and repeat the word exactly as heard, then adjust to your own precise articulation.
Set a weekly goal: master two precise pronunciations of problematic syllables and integrate them into spontaneous speech. By focusing on the stressed MAT, the precise /æ/ quality, and the final /kli/ cluster, you’ll elevate your articulation of automatically to match expert-level expectations.
