4 syllables: In, tri, cate, ly. Stress on In.
IN-truh-kuht-lee
/ˈɪntɹəkətli/
Intricately is pronounced IN-truh-kuht-lee (/ˈɪntɹəkətli/). It has four syllables (In-tri-cate-ly), with the stress on "In". Intricately is an adverb describing something done with great detail and complexity, or in a manner that reveals subtle interconnections. It connotes careful, precise arrangement or arrangement of parts, often with a sense of delicate craftsmanship. Used to modify verbs, it emphasizes the elaborate, interwoven nature of actions or designs.
adverbIntricately is an adverb describing something done with great detail and complexity, or in a manner that reveals subtle interconnections. It connotes careful, precise arrangement or arrangement of parts, often with a sense of delicate craftsmanship. Used to modify verbs, it emphasizes the elaborate, interwoven nature of actions or designs.
"She traced the embroidery intricately, highlighting every tiny motif."
"The plot was intricately woven, with multiple foreshadows and callbacks."
"He explained the mechanism intricately, leaving no component unaccounted for."
Pronounce as in-TRI-ket-ly, with the primary stress on the second syllable: /ɪnˈtrɪ.kət.li/ (US). The first syllable is a short /ɪ/ as in 'in', the second syllable carries the main stress /ˈtrɪ/. The third syllable uses a schwa-like or reduced /kət/ blend; end with /li/. IPA: US /ɪnˈtrɪkətli/, UK /ɪnˈtrɪkɪtli/, AU /ɪnˈtrɪkətli/. Focus on crisp, quick transitions into and out of the stressed syllable, avoiding a prolonged /iː/ sound. Listening practice with a native speaker will help you nail the subtle juncture after /ˈtrɪ/.
Two common errors: (1) stressing the wrong syllable, saying in-TRI- -KA-tly or IN-tri-cate-ly. Fix: place primary stress on the second syllable /ˈtrɪ/ and keep the rest light. (2) over-emphasizing the final -ly, turning it into a separate syllable with a full /i/ sound. Fix: reduce the final -ly to a quick /lə/ or /li/ without extra vowel length. Practice with slow, choppy syllables first, then blend. Pay attention to the mid consonant cluster /ktr/—avoid inserting extra vowels between /t/ and /r/.
US: /ɪnˈtrɪkətli/ with clear /ə/ in the second syllable's unstressed vowel and a rhotic American 'r'-less follow-through. UK: /ɪnˈtrɪkɪtlɪ/ or /ˌɪn.trɪˈkæt.li/ in some regions, with less vowel reduction and a shorter final syllable. AU: /ɪnˈtrɪkətli/ similar to US but with shorter, clipped vowels and less rhoticity in some speakers. Key differences: vowel quality in the second syllable (short /ɪ/ vs. slightly longer), the pre-tonic vowel /ə/ versus pure /ɪ/, and the final unstressed syllable duration. Listen for subtle lip rounding and the rhotic versus non-rhotic tendencies in UK/AU varieties.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic rhythm, with a secondary syllable that carries primary stress and a consonant cluster /ktr/ immediately after the stressed vowel, which can tempt a mis-sequencing of /t/ and /r/. The trailing -ly reduces vowels and creates a quick, light ending. You also need precise vowel reduction in the unstressed syllables, which varies by accent. Practicing with minimal pairs and slow tempo helps stabilize the sequence: in- + TRɪ- + kət + li.
There are no silent letters in Intricately, but the polite challenge is the reduced vowel in -ly and the cluster after the stressed syllable. The ‘-et-’ sound in some pronunciations can be perceived as a quick /ə/ or /ɪ/ depending on the speaker. The crucial part is maintaining the strong secondary stress pattern around the /trɪ/ segment and then gliding into the unstressed /kət.li/ smoothly, without extra vowels inserted.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Intricately"!
Intricately comes from intricate, which derives from Latin intricatus, past participle of intricare “to entangle, perplex,” from in- “in, into” + tricare “to perplex, confuse” (from trica, tricare “to entangle, confuse”). The prefix in- intensifies the idea of being tangled or complex. The English word intricating dates to the 16th century, originally describing physical entanglement or puzzling complexity, evolving by the 17th–18th centuries to describe elaborate, interwoven detail in objects, designs, and narratives. By the late 18th and 19th centuries, intricately commonly described actions or explanations characterized by precise, delicate workmanship or layered structure. In modern usage, intricately retains a semantic emphasis on fine-grained detail and interdependence of parts in both tangible and abstract contexts.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Intricately" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Intricately" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Intricately" 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 "Intricately"
-tly 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.
