5 syllables: fun, da, men, tal, ly. Stress on men.
fuhn-duh-MEN-tuh-lee
/ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəli/
fundamentally is pronounced fuhn-duh-MEN-tuh-lee (/ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəli/). It has five syllables (fun-da-men-tal-ly), with the stress on "men". Fundamentally means at the most essential level or in essence, relating to the core nature of something. It is used to indicate the fundamental basis or principle behind a claim, argument, or system, often implying a shift from surface details to underlying truths. The term emphasizes that conclusions or actions should address the basic premises rather than peripheral aspects.
Fundamentally means at the most essential level or in essence, relating to the core nature of something. It is used to indicate the fundamental basis or principle behind a claim, argument, or system, often implying a shift from surface details to underlying truths. The term emphasizes that conclusions or actions should address the basic premises rather than peripheral aspects.
"- Fundamentally, the argument fails because it ignores key evidence."
"- The project remains fundamentally sound, though there are some logistical hurdles."
"- At a fundamentally higher level, the policy seeks to balance efficiency with equity."
Pronunciation: fənˈdæmən(t)əli. Start with a schwa /fə/ (neutral, relaxed vowel) followed by the stressed syllable /ˈdæ/ under louder emphasis. Then /mən/ (unstressed but clearly articulated), and end with /tli/ or /tli/ as in -t-ly with the /əl/ vowel before the final /i/. In careful speech: fuh-DAM-ən-tuh-lee. Note the optional subtle t pause before the final -ly in some registers. IPA references: US /fəˈdæmənˌtæli/ or /fənˈdæmən(t)li/, UK /fəˈdæmən(t)li/; Australian follows US/UK patterns with non-rhoticity affecting the r-less quality if any. Audio example: consult Pronounce or YouGlish for native pronunciations.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (softly stressing the first or third syllable), pronouncing /dæ/ as /dæː/ with excessive length, and running two consonants together as /dm/ without a clean vowel break. Another frequent error is omitting the /əl/ at the end, producing /fənˈdæməntl/ or /fənˈdæmənli/ with an ambiguous ending. Correction: keep the main stress on the second syllable -ˈdæ- and articulate the sequence as fə-ˈdæ-mən-tə-lli, ensuring the final 'ly' is a separate weak syllable with a light /l/ and clear /iː/ or /ɪ/. Practice slow, then accelerate while maintaining the syllable boundaries.
US tends to use a a softer 'a' in /æ/ and a clear schwa in the first syllable; the r-less ending is not relevant here as there is no rhotic /r/. UK accents preserve /ˈdæmən(t)li/ with a crisp /t/ before the final /li/ and often a slightly sharper /ə/ in the second syllable. Australian tends to be similar to US/UK but with broader diphthongs and a slightly more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable; Australians often reduce the /t/ leading to a softer 't' or a faint glottal stop in rapid speech. In all cases the primary stress remains on the second syllable, but vowel qualities shift subtly: US /æ/ as in cat, UK /æ/ sometimes closer to /aː/, AU similarly variable. IPA references guide variant pronunciations.
Key challenges are the multi-syllabic rhythm and the shift of stress across the word. The primary stress on the second syllable /ˈdæ/ requires a strong, vowel-heavy onset that competes with the adjacent light schwa in the first syllable. The sequence /fə-ˈdæ-mən-təli/ includes a cluster /dm/ that benefits from clean vowel breaks, and the final -ly adds an extra syllable with a reduced vowel in rapid speech. The difficulty also lies in keeping the final /li/ clearly separate from the preceding /tə/. Working on loud-weak syllable contrasts and precise consonant articulation helps reduce slurring.
A unique feature is the combination of a strong second syllable stress with a trailing -ment- sequence that can be misheard as /ˈfɪndə-/ if mispronounced. The target is fən-ˈdæ-mən-təl-i or fən-ˈdæ-mən-tli depending on speed. Be mindful of not merging /t/ and /l/ into a single sound; keep /t/ clean before the /l/ so the final /li/ lands clearly. Practicing with minimal pairs that stress different syllables can help cement the correct rhythm.
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Fundamentally comes from the noun fundamental, which traces to the Latin fundamentum, meaning the base or foundation. Fundamentum itself derives from fundere (to pour) in a figurative sense of laying a base, with the suffix -al forming an adjective meaning “of the foundation.” The suffix -ly turns the adjective into an adverb, indicating manner or degree in which something is true. The word entered English through a trajectory that mirrors many scientific and philosophical terms: Latin roots carried into Middle French and then into Early Modern English, gaining prominence in the 17th–19th centuries as technical vocabularies expanded. The core sense—relating to the foundation or basis of something—remains stable, even as usage broadened to metaphorical foundations (principles, assumptions) in discourse about systems, arguments, and theories. First known uses appear in scholarly, philosophical, and legal writings when discussions increasingly distinguished between surface features and underlying structures. Over time, fundamentally began to acquire its current adverbial function, signaling that a claim operates at the deepest level of importance or truth rather than at superficial observation. Today, it’s common in both formal and informal contexts, often paired with adjectives and nouns governing essential characteristics, foundations, or core premises.
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Words that rhyme with "fundamentally"
-lly sounds
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