4 syllables: e, ter, nal, ly. Stress on ter.
it-UR-nuh-lee
/ɪˈtɝnəli/
eternally is pronounced it-UR-nuh-lee (/ɪˈtɝnəli/). It has four syllables (e-ter-nal-ly), with the stress on "ter". Eternally means lasting forever or for an indefinitely long time. It is used to describe something without end, often in a solemn or poetic sense, and can also refer to a state of perpetual existence. The word carries a formal, timeless nuance and is most common in literary or dramatic contexts.
Eternally means lasting forever or for an indefinitely long time. It is used to describe something without end, often in a solemn or poetic sense, and can also refer to a state of perpetual existence. The word carries a formal, timeless nuance and is most common in literary or dramatic contexts.
- Pronouncing the second syllable as /ˈtɜːr/ or /ˈtɜr/ without proper schwa-like second syllable; correct by ensuring stress on the second syllable and a clear /ɔː/ style vowel in non-rhotic contexts: /ɪˈtɜːr.nə.li/. - Over-articulating the final syllable, turning -ly into a full syllable; fix by reducing /li/ to a light, quick ending and not prolonging it. - Misplacing the stress to the third or first syllable; remember the main stress is on the second syllable: e - ter - nally; practice by clapping on the second syllable.
"- They vowed to love each other eternally, 'til the end of time."
"- The legend spoke of an eternally blooming garden that never wilted."
"- He searched for an eternally peaceful solution to the conflict."
eternally is pronounced /ɪˈtɜːr.nə.li/ in US English, with the primary stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is a short, reduced vowel, the second syllable features a rhotacized /ɜːr/ in US/UK variants, and the final -ly is a light, unstressed syllable. Mouth position: start with a light /ɪ/ sound, glide into /ˈtɜːr/ with tongue bunched for rhoticity, then /nə/ with a neutral schwa, and finish with /li/. Listen for the beat: e-ter-NAL-ly.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (trying to stress the first syllable), mispronouncing the /ɜːr/ as a plain /ɜː/ without rhoticity, and blending the final /li/ too strongly as /liː/ instead of a light /li/. To correct: keep the primary stress on the second syllable, produce /ɜːr/ with a curled or bunched tongue to capture the r-coloring, and make the final /li/ quick and light, almost like a soft ‘lee’ with a barely audible vowel in the onset of the next syllable if connected speech.
In US English, /ɪˈtɜːr.nə.li/ emphasizes the rhotic /ɜːr/ and slightly longer second syllable; in UK English, /ɪˈtɜː.nə.li/ tends toward non-rhoticity in some speakers but preserves the /ɜː/ vowel; Australian tends to a clipped final /li/ with less vowel reduction and similar /ɜː/ quality. Across all, the main variation is rhoticity and vowel quality around the second syllable, with minor duration differences.
The difficulty lies in maintaining accurate secondary-stress placement and the /ɜːr/ vowel with proper rhotic coloring while keeping the final /li/ unstressed and light. Learners often shift the /ɜː/ to /ɜ/ or mispronounce the /r/ in non-rhotic dialects, and may overemphasize the final syllable. Focus on the mid-back vowel, retain the 'r' sound in rhotic accents, and keep the final -ly light and quick.
A key feature is the two adjacent consonants linking into a smooth /tn/ sequence in the middle, with the /t/ clearly released before the /ɜː/; learners often insert an extra vowel. Aim for a clean /t/ release, then a quick /ɜːr/ cluster, followed by a light /nə/ and a final soft /li/. IPA guidance: /ɪˈtɜːr.nə.li/; practice by saying ‘it’ + ‘turn’ with an extra syllable added smoothly.
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- US: rhotic /ɜːr/ is prominent; keep /ɜːr/ robust, then quickly move to /nə/ and a soft /li/. - UK: some speakers are less rhotic; still aim for /ɜː/ with subtle r-color; final -ly remains light. - AU: similar to US, but often a quicker, flatter final; maintain the same syllable count and light final /li/. IPA references: US /ɪˈtɜːr.nə.li/, UK /ɪˈtɜː.nə.li/, AU /ɪˈtɜː.nə.li/.
Eternally comes from the adjective eternal, itself from Latin aeternalis, meaning ‘lasting through all time, perpetual.’ Eternal derives from Latin aeternus, formed from aProto-Italic root that conveys endless time, with emphasis on ongoing duration. The -al suffix marks it as an adjective in Latin, later adapting into English as eternal. The adverb eternally is formed with the standard -ly derivation, indicating manner, and retains the core sense of boundless duration. The early English adoption of eternal traces to the Middle Ages, with poets and scholars embedding the semantic weight of timelessness into religious and literary discourse. The idea of eternity has long been tied to metaphysical debates about the nature of time, existence, and the divine, and eternally bridged these themes by describing actions or states that persist without end. First known use in English for eternal dates from the 14th century, with eternally following in later centuries as a natural adverbial form to modify verbs and adjectives. Modern usage spans formal writing, poetry, and romantic or earnest declarations, while still preserving its solemn, timeless character.
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Words that rhyme with "eternally"
-lly sounds
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