4 syllables: De, fi, nite, ly. Stress on De.
DEF-uh-nuht-lee
/ˈdɛfənətli/
Definitely is pronounced DEF-uh-nuht-lee (/ˈdɛfənətli/). It has four syllables (De-fi-nite-ly), with the stress on "De". Definitely is an adverb indicating certainty or decisiveness, often used to affirm a statement or plan. It conveys a strong, unequivocal commitment, sometimes with an enthusiastic tone. In everyday speech, it can function as a modal-like booster, stressing confidence in the proposition.
adverbDefinitely is an adverb indicating certainty or decisiveness, often used to affirm a statement or plan. It conveys a strong, unequivocal commitment, sometimes with an enthusiastic tone. In everyday speech, it can function as a modal-like booster, stressing confidence in the proposition.
How to Pronounce Definitely
"I will definitely attend the meeting tomorrow."
"That restaurant is definitely worth trying."
"You’ll definitely notice the difference after you practice."
Pronounce it as /ˈdɛf.ɪ.nɪt.li/ (US/UK) with primary stress on the first syllable. The sequence is DEF-uh-NIT-lee; ensure a clear 'def' consonant cluster, a short 'e' as in bed, a reduced 'uh' before the 'nit', and a crisp 'lee' ending. Mouth position: start with a light jaw drop, lips relaxed for the /ˈdɛf/ cluster, then a quick schwa-like /ɪ/ before /nɪt/ and a final /li/. In rapid speech, the middle vowel may reduce toward /ɪ/ or /ə/.
Common errors include pronouncing it as /ˈdɛf.ɪ.tli/ missing the /n/ before the /t/ (tying 'nit' too closely to the previous syllable), or slurring to /ˈdefɪnətli/ with an extra syllable or weak final /li/. Another frequent issue is delaying the stress to the second syllable, producing /dɪˈfɛn.ɪt.li/. To correct: insert the clear /n/ after /t/ and hold the primary stress on the first syllable while maintaining a crisp ‘nit’ with the /t/ release.
In US English, you’ll hear strong initial /ˈdɛ/ and a crisp /t/ before /li/. UK speakers often reduce the vowel in unstressed syllables slightly and may pronounce /ˈdef.ɪ.nɪt.li/ with a shorter /ɪ/ and crisper final /li/. Australian speakers can have a slightly broader vowel in /ˈdɛf/ and a more pronounced /l/ in /li/; rhoticity is less relevant but may influence linking and intonation. Across accents, the main features are primary stress on the first syllable, and clear /t/ before the final /l/.
It’s challenging because of rapid syllable transitions: the sequence /ˈdɛf.ɪ.nɪt.li/ requires precise timing of consonants around a relatively mid vowel, plus a crisp /t/ before /l/ which can blur in fast speech. The weak syllables /ɪ/ and the final /li/ can reduce perceptibility if speech is hurried. Emphasize: alert, compact tongue movements for /n/ and /t/; avoid conflating /t/ with a glottal stop in some dialects.
Tip: keep the /ˈdɛf/ onset strong and deliberate, ensure the /n/ is released clearly before the /t/, and finish with a tight /li/ rather than an open 'lee' sound. A useful cue is to say ‘def-fuh’ quickly, then overenunciate the /n/ and /t/ as you glide into /li/ to avoid slurring the /t/.
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The adverb definitely derives from the Middle English definit(g)ly, from definite meaning 'certain, fixed, settled' (from Latin diffinitus, ‘definite, bounded’), with the adverbial suffix -ly evolving in English to intensify certainty. The core adjective definite comes from Latin definitus ‘defined, bounded, settled,’ formed from the prefix de- + finitus ‘limited, ended.’ The modern sense of definitely—‘in a definite manner; without doubt’—solidified in Early Modern English and gained standardized usage in the 18th–19th centuries as speakers sought stronger affirmation in speech and writing. First known written uses traceable to dictionaries and grammars of the 16th–18th centuries, with popularization in both formal and informal registers as English usage expanded globally through print and education.
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Words that rhyme with "Definitely"
-tty sounds
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