2 syllables: home, ly. Stress on home.
HOHM-lee
/ˈhoʊmli/
homely is pronounced HOHM-lee (/ˈhoʊmli/). It has two syllables (home-ly), with the stress on "home". Homely means lacking in physical attractiveness or refinement, or simply familiar and cozy in a domestic, unpretentious way. It can describe a place, object, or person, often carrying a slightly negative or neutral connotation depending on context. The term contrasts with “handsome” or “beautiful,” and in some dialects it can be used affectionately to imply plain comfort over glamour.
Homely means lacking in physical attractiveness or refinement, or simply familiar and cozy in a domestic, unpretentious way. It can describe a place, object, or person, often carrying a slightly negative or neutral connotation depending on context. The term contrasts with “handsome” or “beautiful,” and in some dialects it can be used affectionately to imply plain comfort over glamour.
"The cottage felt homely, with a warm fire and a well-worn sofa."
"She wore a homely sweater, but it was perfectly comfortable for a long day at home."
"The town has a homely charm that tourists overlook in search of grand landmarks."
Pronounced /ˈhoʊm.li/ in US English and /ˈhəʊm.li/ in UK/Australian. Stress the first syllable; the second is a light, unstressed -ly. Start with a long O in the first syllable, then a clear /m/ followed by a light /li/. Visual cue: think ‘HOHM’ + ‘lee’ with tucked lips for the final syllable.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress on the second syllable (ho-ME-ly). 2) Reducing the first vowel to a schwa in American accents (hə-mee-lee). 3) Not releasing the /l/ properly before the /i/ (monophthongizing the second syllable). Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, articulate /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ clearly, and maintain an alveolar contact for /l/ before the final vowel.
US: /ˈhoʊm.li/ with a clear /oʊ/ vowel and prominent /h/; UK/AU: /ˈhəʊm.li/ with a stronger central to back rounded /əʊ/ and less rhoticity is not present here; both share the same final /li/. Australasia often mirrors UK pronunciation but can lean slightly toward American vowel length in rapid speech. Across all, the key is stress on the first syllable and a crisp /m/ followed by /l/ and the unstressed /i/.
The challenge lies in transitioning from the stressed /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ into a quick, light /m/ plus a soft /l/ before the final /i/. Learners often tense the jaw or elongate the second syllable, altering rhythm. Focus on a clean stop after /m/ and a gentle, almost syllabic /l/ before the short /i/. Practicing with minimal pairs around vowel length helps stabilize the sequence.
Yes—the subtle distinction between the two first-syllable vowels across dialects. In American speech you’ll often hear a diphthong /oʊ/ that glides from /o/ to /ʊ/ slightly, while UK/AU favor a rounded /əʊ/ with less tongue height change. Also, the -ly ending often reduces to a short, light /li/ rather than a full vowel, which can affect overall syllable weight.
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The word homely originates from Old English hamilig or heimlīc meaning ‘of the home’ or ‘domestic,’ and by the Middle Ages it shifted to convey ‘plain or unadorned’ and later, in some dialects, ‘not attractive.’ It is related to the noun home, and the suffix -ly shaped into an adjective meaning ‘like a home’ or ‘homey’ in sense. Over time, homely came to describe appearance and atmosphere that are comfortable and plain rather than elegant, a nuance that persists in modern usage. In American English, homely often carries a slightly negative sense of unattractiveness, whereas in British usage, it can be more neutral or even affectionate in describing a cosy, well-worn room, or a person’s plain, unpretentious appearance. First known uses appear in Old English texts, with evolving forms in Middle English that reflect shifts in social taste toward plainness and domesticity. The evolution mirrors broader linguistic trends where warmth and familiarity can coexist with a lack of polish, and the term has remained a versatile descriptor across contexts—domestic space, clothing, or a person’s appearance—ever since.
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Words that rhyme with "homely"
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