3 syllables: Cer, tain, ly. Stress on Cer.
SUR-tuhn-lee
/ˈsɝtənli/
Certainly is pronounced SUR-tuhn-lee (/ˈsɝtənli/). It has three syllables (Cer-tain-ly), with the stress on "Cer". Certainly is an adverb meaning “without doubt; surely, definitely.” It functions to express strong agreement or confirmation, often in response to a prior statement. In speech, it commonly signals polite assurance and can carry a slightly formal or emphatic tone depending on intonation and context.
adverbCertainly is an adverb meaning “without doubt; surely, definitely.” It functions to express strong agreement or confirmation, often in response to a prior statement. In speech, it commonly signals polite assurance and can carry a slightly formal or emphatic tone depending on intonation and context.
- You may overextend or overemphasize the final -ly, making sound like /-liː/. Keep final /li/ light and quick. - The middle /t/ can blend with the /n/; avoid turning it into a /dn/ cluster. Aim for a clean release then /n/. - Some learners replace the central schwa with a stronger /ɜː/ or /ə/; experiment with a mid back vowel /ɜː/ to match standard pronunciation, then shorten it in rapid speech.
"I will certainly attend the meeting tomorrow."
"The project is certainly feasible with the right resources."
"If you want, you can certainly try again later."
Phonetic guide: /ˈsɜːrtnli/ (US/UK commonly) with primary stress on the first syllable. Break it as cer-TAIN-ly, where cer sounds like "sir" without the r color, and -tain- rhymes with "train" but lands as /tən/ in fast speech. The final -ly is a light, unstressed schwa + lee. In rapid speech you may hear /ˈsɜːnli/ dropping the t slightly, but keep the /t/ clear in careful speech. Mouth position: start with a mid-back rounded /ɜː/ or /əː/ vowel, then alveolar stop /t/ or alveolar nasal liaison before -n/ -l. Audio reference: consult Pronounce or Forvo with native speakers saying “certainly.” keywords: stress, syllables, schwa, alveolar stop, liaison.
Two frequent errors: 1) Dropping the middle /t/ or misplacing it as a soft /d/ sound, which makes it sound like 'senrtnly.' The fix is to articulate a clear /t/ between /ɜː/ and the /n/. 2) Over-pronouncing the final 'ly' as /liː/ instead of a quick /li/; aim for a light /lɪ/ or /li/ with reduced vowel. Practice with minimal pairs focusing on /ɜː/ vs /ə/ in the first syllable, and ensure the sequence /-rt(n)li/ or /-tnli/ is smooth. In careful pronunciation, avoid adding extra syllables; keep the rhythm compact.
US: /ˈsɜːrtnli/ with rhotic /r/ and a clear /t/. UK: /ˈsɜːtənli/ often less rhotic in some regions; the first vowel may be /ɜː/ or /əː/, with a more reduced middle syllable /tə/. AU: often /ˈsɜːtnli/ with a clipped /ˈsɜːt/ and a light final /li/, sometimes a more rounded /ɜː/ in broad vowels. Note that in rapid speech, the /r/ may be weakened in some UK dialects, and the middle vowel can reduce to /ə/ or /ɪ/ depending on speaker. Emphasis remains on the first syllable across dialects, but vowel qualities vary.
Two main challenges: the middle /t/ cluster and the reduced vowel in the second syllable. The sequence cer-TAIN-ly demands clear articulation: /ˈsɜːrtənli/ with a released /t/ before /n/. The final -ly combines a light /l/ with a near-schwa vowel; keeping this unstressed while maintaining clarity of the last consonant can be tricky, especially in faster speech. Additionally, nonnative speakers often misplace the primary stress or soften the /ɜː/ too much, altering intelligibility.
The word’s primary stress sits on the first syllable, contrasting with many two-syllable adverbs that stress the second. This makes 'Certainly' feel brisk and emphatic even when used mid-sentence. The combination of a clear /t/ before /n/ and the lightly reduced final /li/ creates a compact, precise sound that can be noticeably different from more diffuse adverbs like 'definitely' where stress shifts and vowel lengths differ.
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- US: rhotics, clearer /r/ in /sɜːr/; keep middle vowel robust. - UK: often less rhotic; the /r/ may be silent; the middle syllable can be more reduced to /tə/. - AU: typically non-rhotic with a rounded /ɜː/ and a brisk /tn/ cluster; maintain a light /l/ at the end. IPA references: US /ˈsɜːrtnli/, UK /ˈsɜːtənli/, AU /ˈsɜːtnli/. - Common trap: adding vowel between /t/ and /n/; avoid /tɚn/ or /tɛn/ in most contexts; aim for /tən/.
Certainly originates from the word certainly from Middle English certainly, directly from Old French certain (feeling of certainty) plus -ly. The root is Latin certus meaning “certain, sure.” The English sense of “without doubt” developed by the 15th century, reinforced by usage in formal rhetoric and legal language. The evolution tracks from precise assertion in Latin-based legal texts to a general adverb of affirmation in Early Modern English, then expanding into everyday usage. First known uses appear in 14th–15th century English writings where speakers emphasized assurance, transitioning from “certain” (adj) to “certainly” (adv) to modify verbs and adjectives for emphasis. Over centuries, pronunciation shifted through Great Vowel Shift remnants and standardization, leading to the modern pronunciation with two syllables: cer-TAIN-ly, with primary stress on the second syllable in many dialects.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Certainly" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Certainly"
-kly sounds
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