3 syllables: Ea, ger, ly. Stress on Ea.
EE-gur-lee
/ˈiɡɚli/
Eagerly is pronounced EE-gur-lee (/ˈiɡɚli/). It has three syllables (Ea-ger-ly), with the stress on "Ea". Eagerly is an adverb describing doing something with keen interest or enthusiasm, often implying anticipation. It conveys energetic, quick, and attentive action, typically modifying verbs. The mood is positive and proactive, suggesting a readiness to participate or engage rather than passive receipt of information.
adverbEagerly is an adverb describing doing something with keen interest or enthusiasm, often implying anticipation. It conveys energetic, quick, and attentive action, typically modifying verbs. The mood is positive and proactive, suggesting a readiness to participate or engage rather than passive receipt of information.
"She waited eagerly for the concert to begin."
"The team listened eagerly to the coach's instructions."
"He eagerly accepted the challenging assignment and got started right away."
Pronounce as /ˈiːɡərli/ (US) or /ˈiːɡəli/ (UK/AU). The first syllable carries primary stress: EAG-, with a long E sound. The middle syllable is a schwa /ə/ or a reduced /ɪ/ in some accents, and the final -ly is /li/. Mouth positions: start with a wide open front vowel for /iː/, then a relaxed mid-central /ə/ for /ər/ or /ə/ before the -ly. Listen to native examples to tune the rhythm and avoid tensing the jaw.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying /ˈiɡər/ or /ˈiːɡərlaɪ/ with incorrect final syllable. 2) Reducing or mispronouncing the middle /ər/ as /eɪr/ or /ɛr/. 3) Over-articulating the final /ly/ into /liː/ or separating /l/ from /i/. Correction: keep primary stress on first syllable /ˈiːɡ/ and use a quick, relaxed /ər/ before the final /li/. Practice with minimal pairs and slow, deliberate enunciation.
In US, /ˈiːɡərli/ with rhoticity, the /r/ is pronounced clearly. In UK, /ˈiːɡəli/ with non-rhoticity, /r/ is weaker or silent before consonants, and the /ə/ is often reduced. In Australian English, /ˈiːɡəli/ similar to UK but with broader vowel qualities and a more fronted /iː/ in some speakers. The final /li/ tends to be light and quick in all, but syllable timing differs: US tends to a slightly longer second vowel; UK/AU may reduce the final consonant cluster slightly.
The difficulty lies in coordinating a stressed initial syllable with a reduced middle vowel and a light final -ly. The /ɡ/ combines with a following /ər/ sequence requiring a quick, relaxed mid-central vowel, which can trigger a jaw tension if not practiced. Additionally, the transition from /iː/ to /ɡ/ to /ər/ must be smooth to avoid a choppy rhythm. Practicing connected speech and rhythm will help stabilize the sequence.
A unique nuance is the pronunciation of the middle syllable as a schwa or near-schwa depending on the speaker. The /ər/ sequence can reduce to /ə/ or /ɚ/ in American English when the speaker is using a fast or casual pace, particularly in connected speech. Focusing on reducing the mid syllable while preserving the main stress will improve overall naturalness.
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Eagerly derives from the adjective eager, which itself comes from the Middle English iger or eger (anxious, eager) and ultimately from Old French aguere, aguîr meaning ‘sharp, keen’ and Latin acer, acutus meaning ‘sharp, pointed’. The original sense in English carried connotations of anxiety or intense desire, evolving in the 15th century toward current usage meaning keen interest or enthusiastic readiness. The suffix -ly was added to form an adverbial modifier in Early Modern English, aligning with patterns like quickly, softly, loudly. Over time, the word shifted from denoting mere eagerness to also imply proactive anticipation in both formal and informal registers. First attested print usages appear in English literature of the 16th and 17th centuries, with rapid expansion in 18th–19th centuries as education and communication emphasized prompt, eager participation in discourse and activities.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Eagerly" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Eagerly"
-rly sounds
-ely sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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