4 syllables: in, cred, i, bly. Stress on cred.
/ˌɪnˈkɹɛdəbli/
Say it backIncredibly is an adverb meaning to a very great degree; used to emphasize the extent or degree of a quality or action. It conveys astonishment or strong intensity, often before adjectives or verbs. In casual speech it can function as a general intensifier, while in formal contexts it preserves emphasis without being overly colloquial.
"The movie was incredibly exciting from start to finish."
"She spoke incredibly clearly, making the complex topic easy to understand."
"The project was incredibly challenging, yet we completed it on time."
Pronounce as /ɪnˈkrɛd.ə.bli/ in US/UK/AU. Stress falls on the second syllable: in-CRED-i-ble, with the main vowel in the stressed syllable being /ɛ/ as in ‘bed’. The sequence ‘cred’ has /krɛd/; the final -ly is an unstressed, light syllable /bli/ that bilabial onset with y-glide. Practice by saying ‘in’ + ‘CRED’ + ‘uh’ + ‘ble’, linking smoothly: in-CRED-uh-ble. Audio reference: listen to native speakers saying “incredibly” in phrases and repeat at natural speed.
Common errors include misplacing stress (say in-CRED-i-ble instead of in-CRED-i-ble with proper emphasis on the second syllable), and mispronouncing the final -bly as ‘blee’ or ‘ble’ instead of a light /bli/. Another frequent slip is reducing the second syllable too much, producing /ɪnˈkrɛdɪbli/ rather than /ɪnˈkrɛd.ə.bli/. Correct by maintaining clear /ˈkrɛd/ in the stressed syllable and keeping the ending as a two-beat light syllable /-ə-bli/ rather than a long or clipped ending.
US/UK/AU share /ɪnˈkrɛd.ə.bli/ with minor vowel quality differences. US tends to a rhotic /r/ absent in this word but the influence is in the surrounding vowels; UK and AU often have a slightly closer /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a less pronounced /r/; the /ə/ in the third syllable is a schwa in many speakers, sometimes reduced to an unstressed schwa in rapid speech. The main variation is vowel length and the exact quality of /ɪ/ and /e/ depending on regional vowel shifts.
The difficulty lies in balancing the multi-syllabic sequence with accurate stress placement and subtle reductions in the unstressed vowels. The second syllable carries primary stress (/ˈkrɛd/), which can cause English learners to oversimplify surrounding vowels. Additionally, the /ɪ/ in the first syllable can reduce toward a near- schwa in fluent speech, making the word sound rushed. Paying attention to a crisp /krɛd/ and gentle /ə/ before the final /bli/ helps clarity.
Does the '-bly' ending in incredible operate as a distinct syllable boundary or is it merged? In incredibly, the sequence -bly is a single light syllable that often reduces to /bli/ in fast speech. However, careful articulation keeps the /b/ plosive clear and the /l/ light but audible, especially in careful enunciation. The boundary is between the /ə/ and /bli/ so you say in-CRE-d-ə-bli with two brief, light strokes on the final syllable.
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Incredibly derives from the adjective incredible, which comes from the Latin incredibilis, formed from in- (not) + credo (I believe). The suffix -ly turns it into an adverb. The term “incredible” entered English in the 17th century, initially meaning unbelievable or hard to believe. Over time, incredibly evolved as a common intensifier in both spoken and written English, closely associated with emphasis and degree rather than the literal sense of belief. The path from Latin incre- to English credible then incrediblis to incredibilis shows a gradual broadening of meaning from “not capable of being believed” to “extremely impressive or remarkable.” First known use of the adverbial form dates to early modern English, paralleling the general shift in English where adjectives frequently take -ly to form adverbs, enabling more precise intensity in descriptors.
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Words that rhyme with "incredibly"
-bly sounds
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