2 syllables: glad, ly. Stress on glad.
GLAD-lee
/ˈɡlædli/
gladly is pronounced GLAD-lee (/ˈɡlædli/). It has two syllables (glad-ly), with the stress on "glad". Gladly is an adverb meaning with pleasure or willingness, often signaling a cheerful, voluntary action. It implies a positive attitude in response to a request or opportunity, or a cheerful agreement. In usage, it strengthens tone and indicates wholehearted participation rather than reluctant compliance.
Gladly is an adverb meaning with pleasure or willingness, often signaling a cheerful, voluntary action. It implies a positive attitude in response to a request or opportunity, or a cheerful agreement. In usage, it strengthens tone and indicates wholehearted participation rather than reluctant compliance.
"I’d gladly help you move this weekend if you still need a hand."
"She would gladly accept the invitation, as the event sounds delightful."
"They would gladly share their resources to support the project."
Pronounce it as GLAD-lee with two syllables. IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈɡlæd.li/. Start with a clear /g/ followed by a short /l/ in the onset of the first syllable, then a bright /æ/ (as in cat), a clear /d/, and finally a light /l/ followed by a reduced /i/ vowel in the second syllable, ending with an unstressed /i/ like 'ee' but shorter. Keep the /li/ syllable brisk and avoid turning it into /liː/ unless you’re emphasizing. Practicing with a small pause between syllables helps perception.
Two common errors: (1) Turning the second syllable into a full vowel like /liː/ (heard as 'GLAD-lee' with a longer second vowel). Correct by reducing the second syllable to a short /li/ with minimal vowel length. (2) Dropping the /d/ or softening it to a /t/ in some dialects, producing 'glat-lee' or 'glat-ly.' Focus on a crisp /d/ closure before the /li/ sequence. Practice with a short burst of air after /d/ and keep the /l/ light but present.
In US, UK, and AU, the primary difference is vowel quality and rhythm instead of the core consonants. US speakers often have a slightly flatter /æ/ in the first syllable and a faster rhythm, with a lighter /ə/ or /ɪ/ in the second syllable depending on tempo. UK speakers maintain a crisp /æ/ and a more pronounced /d/ closure; the second syllable tends to be a shorter /li/ with less vowel length. Australian accents preserve /æ/ but may include a slightly more centralized vowel quality and a more relaxed final /i/ length. Rhoticity is not a factor for this word in any of these accents; the /r/ is not pronounced.
The challenge lies in maintaining a crisp /d/ closure before a light /l/ sequence and avoiding an overlong second syllable. The transition from /æ/ to /d/ requires precise tongue positioning: the tongue tip taps the alveolar ridge for /d/ with a quick release into a high, relaxed /l/ position. Additionally, keeping the second syllable short and not lengthened by listener expectation or singing intonation is essential. Pause minimally between syllables to preserve natural cadence.
A distinctive trait is maintaining the two-syllable rhythm with a clear onset in the first syllable and a lightly articulated second, avoiding an exaggerated or clipped stop. You’ll want a tiny vowel reduction in the second syllable in very rapid speech while preserving clarity of the /l/ and /i/. The key is a precise /æ/ then a clean /d/ followed by a quick /l/ and short /i/. IPA reference: /ˈɡlæd.li/.
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Gladly comes from the adjective glad, meaning pleased, joyful, or delighted. The adjective itself derives from Old English glæd, which meant bright, shining, or joyful. The suffix -ly is a productive adverbial suffix in English, used to form adverbs from adjectives (e.g., quickly, softly). The sense of willingly or with pleasure developed from the broader sense of being in a joyful or content state, then grammatically shifted to describe the manner of action. The earliest attestations of glad as a noun or adjective appear in Old English and Middle English texts, with the adverbial form appearing in Middle English to modify verbs. By Early Modern English, gladly was established as a common adverbial marker of willingness. Its evolution mirrors the semantic broadening of “glad” from “pleasing” to “willing and cheerful,” a trajectory typical of English adjectives turning into adverbs with the -ly suffix.
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Words that rhyme with "gladly"
-dly sounds
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