4 syllables: con, sis, tent, ly. Stress on sis.
kuhn-SIS-tuhnt-lee
/kəˈnsɪstəntli/
consistently is pronounced kuhn-SIS-tuhnt-lee (/kəˈnsɪstəntli/). It has four syllables (con-sis-tent-ly), with the stress on "sis". Consistently means in a reliable, repeatable, or steady manner over time. It describes performing actions or producing results with uniform quality, without variation, across different occasions or periods. The term is often used in discussions of habits, performance, and outcomes where steady adherence is expected or required.
Consistently means in a reliable, repeatable, or steady manner over time. It describes performing actions or producing results with uniform quality, without variation, across different occasions or periods. The term is often used in discussions of habits, performance, and outcomes where steady adherence is expected or required.
"She exercises consistently and has seen gradual improvements."
"The team trained consistently, which led to better game performance."
"He delivered the presentation consistently well, even when faced with tough questions."
Pronounce as /kənˈsɪstəntli/ in US/UK/AU. The primary stress is on the second syllable: con-SIS-tent-ly. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then /ˈsɪs/ as a stressed cluster, followed by /tənt/ and ending with /li/. Keep the /nt/ cluster crisp before the final /li/; the final syllable is light. Practicing slowly helps: kən- SIS - tənt - lee. You’ll hear the emphasis clearly on the /ˈsɪs/ portion.
Two common errors: (1) Misplacing the primary stress, saying con-SIS-tent-ly with incorrect beat; (2) Slurring the /t/ before the -ly, making it sound like -tli instead of -t-ly; (3) Reducing the /ɪ/ in the first unstressed syllable too much, turning it into a schwa but not enough, causing 'kən-SIS-tənt-lee' to sound rushed. Correction: clearly articulate the /ˈsɪs/ cluster, keep the /t/ release before the final /li/, and maintain a light, quick schwa in the first syllable.
In US, the /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable is shorter and more reduced, the /t/ may be flapped in casual speech, and the final /li/ may blur slightly. UK speakers tend to preserve a crisper /t/ release and can have a longer /ɪ/ vowel in the stressed syllable; rhoticity is non-rhotic in many accents, so /r/ is not pronounced. Australian English tends to be non-rhotic as well with a slightly more centralized vowel in /ɪ/ and a more rounded /ɔ/ in some speakers, but the overall rhythm remains con-SIS-tent-ly with clear syllable separation.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic rhythm, with four syllables and a stress on the second: con-SIS-tent-ly. The /s/ cluster before the /t/ needs crisp release, and the final -ly often merges quickly in fluent speech. The /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable should be distinct from the reduced schwa in the first syllable, and avoiding vowel reduction for the stressed syllable helps clarity. Practicing the sequence slowly helps anchor the correct timing.
Is the 'consist' portion pronounced as two syllables with a separate /kən/ then /ˈsɪs/? Yes. In consistently, the root 'consist' contributes the 'con-sist' portion, with the primary stress on the /ˈsɪs/ within the word. The 'ly' ending is light and fast, often reduced in casual speech to -li or barely pronounced, but in careful speech, you pronounce the /l/ and the /i/. The overall flow keeps a steady pace, not abrupt changes, to preserve clarity.
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Consistently derives from the adverb consistently, formed by combining the adjective consistent with the suffix -ly to create an adverb meaning 'in a consistent manner.' The core adjective consistent comes from Latin consistens, from consistĕre, meaning 'to stand together, to fit, to agree.' Consistĕre blends con- (together) with sistere (to set, to cause to stand). The neuter sense in classical Latin of ‘standing together’ evolved into the figurative sense of harmony or uniformity, which passed into Old French and then Middle English as 'consistant' or 'consistantly' and eventually the modern form consistently by the 15th–16th centuries. The semantic shift centers on regularity, dependability, and absence of fluctuation, which later broadened to include habitual actions and outcomes in behavioral, performance, and quality contexts. First known uses in English appear in the early modern period in discussions of consistency of actions, with modern sense solidifying by the 18th century in scientific and educational discourse about repeatable results and reliability.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "consistently" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "consistently"
-tly sounds
-ely sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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