2 syllables: gul, ly. Stress on gul.
GUHL-ee
/ˈɡʌli/
gully is pronounced GUHL-ee (/ˈɡʌli/). It has two syllables (gul-ly), with the stress on "gul". Gully refers to a narrow, water-worn channel or ravine, often formed by erosion. It can also describe a dirty, muddy alley or street, especially in urban areas. In slang, it can imply something rough or treacherous. The term conveys a sense of a steep, enclosed natural feature or a messy, drainage-like channel depending on context.
Gully refers to a narrow, water-worn channel or ravine, often formed by erosion. It can also describe a dirty, muddy alley or street, especially in urban areas. In slang, it can imply something rough or treacherous. The term conveys a sense of a steep, enclosed natural feature or a messy, drainage-like channel depending on context.
"The hikers slid down the gully after a rainstorm."
"She carved a path along the steep gully to reach the spring."
"The town’s gully filled with debris after the flood."
You pronounce it as /ˈɡʌ.li/ with the first syllable stressed. Start with a hard g sound, then a short
Common errors: reducing the vowel to a schwa in the first syllable or merging the two syllables too quickly. To correct: keep /ˈɡʌ/ as a stressed syllable with a clear short u, then articulate /li/ as a clean, light syllable—don’t blend into one syllable. Focus on a crisp onset /ɡ/ and a short, lax /ʌ/ before the /li/ if you’re not gliding.
In US/UK/AU, /ˈɡʌ.lɪ/ is consistent, but rhoticity can affect vowel length only slightly; Australian English may have a more centralized or rounded /ʌ/ depending on speaker, and the trailing /li/ might sound slightly lighter or quicker in Australian accents. The main difference is subtle vowel quality rather than stress or consonant changes.
The challenge lies in maintaining a crisp onset /ɡ/ followed by a short, tense /ʌ/ and a clear, light /li/ without inserting a schwa or adding extra consonants. For non-native speakers, balancing the two-syllable rhythm and keeping the /l/ sound distinct from the /ɡ/ onset requires precise tongue positioning and timing.
The stress on the first syllable makes the word feel punchy; you land the /ɡ/ and the /ʌ/ quickly before gliding into /li/. A useful cue: think of starting with a crisp, forceful g then a quick, closed mouth for /ʌ/ before a clean, forward tongue contact for /li/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "gully"!
Gully comes from the Old English word guiltan, meaning a ravine or valley, with later influence from Gaelic and Norse terms describing water channels. The word entered Middle English with senses tied to natural depressions and drainage paths formed by running water. By the 16th and 17th centuries, gully also described artificial channels or furrows cut by human activity. In American usage, especially in urban contexts, gully broadened to include dirty, neglected streets or alleys that resemble natural gullies in their ridged, muddy surfaces. The evolution reflects a shift from a primarily geographic feature to a more figurative sense of something deep, narrow, and potentially treacherous. The first known written uses appear in medieval English texts describing landscapes and waterways, with rapid expansion in geographic and colloquial senses as dialects blended and urban environments grew in the modern era.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "gully" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "gully" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "gully" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "gully"
-lly sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
