4 syllables: fu, ri, ous, ly. Stress on fu.
FYUUR-ee-uh-slee
/ˈfjʊɹiəsli/
furiously is pronounced FYUUR-ee-uh-slee (/ˈfjʊɹiəsli/). It has four syllables (fu-ri-ous-ly), with the stress on "fu". Furiously means with intense energy, rage, or speed, often conveying strong emotion or action. It describes something done in a violently hurried or frenzied manner, not just quickly. The word carries a sense of aggression or extreme haste in behavior or movement.
Furiously means with intense energy, rage, or speed, often conveying strong emotion or action. It describes something done in a violently hurried or frenzied manner, not just quickly. The word carries a sense of aggression or extreme haste in behavior or movement.
- Common phonetic challenges: the middle syllable often becomes /ri/ or /rɪ/ without a vowel lift; the final -ly can be devoiced or merged with preceding consonant; reduction of the multisyallbic rhythm under speed. - Corrections: practice with slow, segmented syllables FU-RI-OU-SLY, then gradually connect them; exaggerate the first syllable stress and ensure the /r/ is clearly pronounced; keep the final /li/ crisp. - Exercise: record yourself saying 5 times, compare to a native audio, adjust mouth shape, and re-record.
"She waved her hand furiously to get their attention."
"The crowd shouted furiously as the game ended in a controversial call."
"He tapped the keys furiously, trying to finish the report before the deadline."
Pronounce as /ˈfjʊɹ.i.ə.sli/ (US) or /ˈfjʊ.ri.əs.li/ (UK). Primary stress on the first syllable FU-, vowels are short-rounded /ʊ/ in the first vowel, the middle syllables are /ri/ or /ɪə/ depending on accent, and the final -ly is /li/. Focus on keeping the /ɹ/ consonant clear after /fjʊ/. Quick tip: say ‘few’ + ‘ree-uh’ + ‘slee’ quickly. Audio reference: listen to native speakers from reputable dictionaries or Forvo entries for furiously to hear natural rhythm and vowel quality.
Common errors include reducing the second syllable to /ri/ as in ‘fury-uh-sli’ instead of /ɪə/ or /iə/ depending on accent, and misplacing the primary stress so it sounds like fu-RI-ously. Another frequent issue is linking the /r/ and /i/ making a weak or swallowed middle syllable. To correct: overemphasize the first syllable FU- and articulate the middle as /ri/ or /riə/ depending on dialect, then clearly pronounce -ly as /li/. Practice slowly with two-syllable chunks: FU- ri- ou-sly, then cascade quickly to natural speed.
In US, /ˈfjʊ.rɪ.əs.li/ with a rhotic /r/ and tighter /ɪ/ on the middle syllable. UK often uses /ˈfjʊ.ər.i.əs.li/ or /ˈfjʊ.rɪ.əs.li/ with a less pronounced vowel in the second syllable and a clear /ə/ in the middle depending on speaker; the final /li/ tends to be crisp. Australian typically aligns with non-rhotic tendencies in some speakers but many Australian speakers form /r/ in /ɹ/ due to general rhotic variation, giving /ˈfjəː.ri.əs.li/ or /ˈfjʊ.ɹi.əs.li/. Pay attention to vowel rounds and rhotic linking in each region.
The difficulty centers on the multi-syllable rhythm with a strong initial stress, a potentially reduced middle syllable, and a crisp final -ly. Producing /fjʊ/ accurately requires rounding the lips as in ‘few’ while transitioning quickly to /ri/ or /rɪ/ and then to a light /əs/ before the final /li/. The combination of rhotics, vowel quality, and the fast cadence of the sequence can challenge non-native speakers, especially when attempting native-like smoothness between syllables.
A unique tip is to practice cluster shaping: start with /fjʊ/ produced by rounding lips to form /ʊ/ while the tongue edges forward toward /j/ before releasing into /ri/. For the final -ously, ensure the /s/ is not elided and the /li/ is a clean, light syllable. Practice with slow starts, then speed up while keeping the tongue anchored: lips rounded for /ʊ/ then relax into /r/ and /i/ before the final /əsli/ sequence.
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- US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced; keep /ɹ/ fully voiced. The middle vowel tends to be /ɪ/ as in 'furious', but in many speakers it is reduced toward /ɪə/ or /iə/. - UK: often non-rhotic; you may hear a lighter /r/ or no /r/ at the end of syllables; the vowel may be slightly closer to /iə/ in the middle. - AU: tends to be rhotic but with more open vowels; the /ɹ/ is present, and the middle may reduce slightly. IPA references: US /ˈfjʊɹ.i.əs.li/ , UK /ˈfjʊ.ər.i.əs.li/ , AU /ˈfjʊ.ɹi.əs.li/ . - Tip: practice with mouth slightly open for the middle vowel; keep lips rounded for /ʊ/ in FU-; ensure the final /li/ is light to avoid a heavy ending.
Furiously derives from the adjective fierce or furious, combining with the suffix -ly to form an adverbial modifier. The root furor itself comes from Latin furor meaning rage, frenzy, or madness, related to furere “to rage.” Middle English absorbed the Latin-French influence, with -iously forming an adverb indicating manner. First known uses appear in late medieval/early modern English texts where adverbs ending in -ly described manner of action. The semantic shift from “in a furious way” to “with intense energy and speed” reflects broader figurative usage as English expanded its expressive adverbial inventory in the 16th–18th centuries. Over time, furiously became common in fiction and journalism to denote exaggerated or rapid action, aligning with other adverbs of manner that intensify behavior. The pronunciation and orthography stabilized in Early Modern English, with -iously suffix forming from -ous adjectives plus -ly, and by the 19th century, furiously was established as the standard adverb for violent, frenzied, or rapid action.
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Words that rhyme with "furiously"
-sly sounds
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