3 syllables: ea, si, ly. Stress on ea.
EE-zuh-lee
/ˈizəli/
easily is pronounced EE-zuh-lee (/ˈizəli/). It has three syllables (ea-si-ly), with the stress on "ea". Easily is an adverb meaning with little effort or difficulty, or readily and conveniently. It often implies a smooth, effortless manner in performing tasks or experiencing events. The word can also describe something done without struggle, or something that occurs with little resistance or complication.
Easily is an adverb meaning with little effort or difficulty, or readily and conveniently. It often implies a smooth, effortless manner in performing tasks or experiencing events. The word can also describe something done without struggle, or something that occurs with little resistance or complication.
- You may flatten the word into two syllables, saying /ˈizi.li/ or /ˈiːzli/. Correct by enforcing three distinct segments and a clear /z/. Practice with a slow, deliberate /ˈiː.zɪ.li/ before speeding up. - The middle /ɪ/ can become too lax or merge with the final /li/; keep a distinct short vowel between /z/ and /l/. Exercises: isolate /zɪ/ and /zɪ.li/ to train separation. - Final syllable may be rushed or merged with following words; practice pause after the third syllable when starting, then ease into natural flow.
"She easily lifted the box with one hand."
"The test was easy, he finished it easily within minutes."
"They can solve complex problems easily thanks to their teamwork."
Pronounce as three syllables: /ˈiː.zɪ.li/. Start with a long E, then a short ZI sound, and finish with a light LI. The main stress falls on the first syllable: EE-zih-lee. Keep the middle vowel schwa-like /ɪ/ sound but not too reduced; the final -ly is unstressed. Tip: say it in slow motion: EE-zih-lee, then speed up to natural speech.
Two frequent errors: (1) reducing it to two syllables like /ˈizi.li/ or /ˈiːz.li/ by dropping the /z/ or the middle /ɪ/; (2) misplacing the primary stress or pronouncing the middle vowel too clearly as /iː/. Correction: keep three distinct syllables with the /z/ as a voiced alveolar fricative between the /iː/ and /ɪ/. Practice: /ˈiː.zɪ.li/ with a light, non-syllabic /ɪ/ in the middle.
US/UK/AU share /ˈiː.zɪ.li/ but can differ. US often reduces the middle /ɪ/ slightly toward a schwa and keeps a crisp /z/. UK may have a slightly more compact middle vowel and a non-rhotic /r/ unaffected, though /ˈiː.zɪ.li/ remains. Australian tends to a clearer final /li/ with a slightly broader vowel in /iː/ and a relaxed middle /ɪ/. Overall, the rhythm remains three syllables with steady stress on the first.
The difficulty lies in maintaining three distinct syllables quickly: /ˈiː.zɪ.li/. The middle /z/ sound between a long /iː/ and a lax /ɪ/ can blur if the jaw/ tongue aren’t positioned for rapid, clean transitions. Also, natural speech often reduces /ɪ/ toward a schwa, making the word sound like /ˈiː.zli/ for some speakers. Focus on a sharp, brief middle /ɪ/ and even tempo across all three syllables.
The word’s adverbial suffix -ly affects how the final /li/ is released. The final /i/ should be lightly released without dragging into the following word, avoiding a heavy ‘lee’ ending. Also, ensure the middle /ɪ/ remains clearly distinct from both neighboring vowels; it’s not fully reduced to a schwa in careful speech. Mastery comes from crisp, even three-syllable articulation.
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- US: maintain rhotic neutrality, avoid linking-wide vowels; middle /ɪ/ slightly closer to schwa in casual speech. - UK: three clear syllables with a slightly rounded /iː/; keep non-rhoticity consistent, but final /li/ remains clean. - AU: brighter /iː/ and a more open /ɪ/; keep stress on the first syllable and a warm, open jaw for /iː/. - IPA references: US /ˈiː.zɪ.li/, UK /ˈiː.zɪ.li/, AU /ˈiː.zɪ.li/
Easily comes from Middle English easily, from Old French aisie (meaning feasible, comfortable) and Latin facilis (easy, agreeable). The transition from Latin facilis to Old French aisie involved semantic broadening from “facile”/“easy” to social and practical ease. In Norman and later English, aisie became easily through the addition of the adverbial suffix -ly, indicating manner. The sense of “without effort” coalesced in the early Modern English period as writers used easily to modify verbs and adjectives, signaling a low-effort action or a lack of resistance. The core meaning centers on ease and lack of difficulty, but over time, it also took on nuance of convenience and quickness, expanding its collocational range to phrases like “done easily,” “easily accessible,” and “easily solved.” First known usage in English manuscripts traces to the 14th–15th centuries, with later rapid expansion in the 17th–19th centuries as standardized English proliferated. Today, easily remains a versatile adverb common across formal and informal registers, frequently collocating with verbs of action, perception, and assessment.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "easily" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "easily" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "easily"
-ily sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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