2 syllables: just, ly. Stress on just.
JUHST-lee
/ˈdʒʌstli/
justly is pronounced JUHST-lee (/ˈdʒʌstli/). It has two syllables (just-ly), with the stress on "just". Justly means in a fair, morally right, and deserved manner. It emphasizes equity and proper conduct, often in judgments or actions aligned with justice. The term connotes principled fairness in outcomes or behavior, typically used in formal or rhetorical contexts to describe actions or decisions that are morally warranted.
Justly means in a fair, morally right, and deserved manner. It emphasizes equity and proper conduct, often in judgments or actions aligned with justice. The term connotes principled fairness in outcomes or behavior, typically used in formal or rhetorical contexts to describe actions or decisions that are morally warranted.
- You may over-dilate the first syllable, turning /ˈdʒʌst/ into a longer vowel like /ˈdʒuːst/; keep it tight and immediate. - The /t/ in the /st/ cluster is often voiceless and crisp; avoid letting it soften into a /d/ or disappear. - The /li/ in the second syllable can be too quickly reduced to /l/ or /i/; keep full, clean /li/ with a slight touch of /iː/ for clarity. - In rapid speech you may insert an extra vowel between /st/ and /l/; prevent this by practicing with connected speech drills.
"The judge ruled justly, considering all evidence before delivering the verdict."
"She was praised for acting justly toward everyone she met, regardless of status."
"The policy was crafted to ensure students are treated justly across all departments."
Justly is pronounced /ˈdʒʌst.li/ in US/UK/AU. The stress is on the first syllable. Begin with the /dʒ/ sound as in just, then the /ʌ/ (like the 'u' in under) or a reduced /ə/ in fast speech, followed by /st/ cluster and a light /l/ onset of the second syllable, finishing with /i/ as in 'lee'.
Common errors include saying /ˈdʒɜːst.li/ with an open back vowel or misplacing the stress as on the second syllable. Some speakers insert extra vowel sounds, producing /ˈdʒəst.əlˈi/ or split into 'just-lee' with an awkward hiatus. Correction: keep the first syllable tight: /ˈdʒʌst/; avoid over-elaborating the second syllable. Finish with a clean /li/ or /liː/ without an extra vowel.
US/UK/AU all share /ˈdʒʌst.li/ roughly, but vowel quality on the first syllable can shift: US /ˈdʒəst.li/ with a more centralized vowel in rapid speech, UK may preserve a clearer /ʌ/ while AU often uses a slightly tighter /ɐ/ in certain dialects. The /t/ can be flapped in some US dialects leading to /ˈdʒɚst.li/ in fast speech, though standard careful speech keeps /ˈdʒʌst.li/.
The difficulty lies in the/ dʒ/ onset blending with a crisp /t/ in the /st/ cluster, plus a light, quick /l/ onset in the second syllable. Speakers often reduce or misplace the vowel of the first syllable, producing /ˈdʒɪst.li/ or /ˈdʒəstli/. The challenge is maintaining clean consonant boundaries in a two-syllable word while preserving stable stress on the first syllable.
Yes. The root 'just' carries fair meaning, but the adverb adds an extra syllable and syllable-timed rhythm. Focus on linking /t/ to the /l/ of the next syllable, ensuring that /t/ does not become overly aspirated or disappear. The transition from /st/ to /lj/ requires precise articulation: keep the /l/ light and the /i/ crisp.
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- US: /ˈdʒʌst.li/ with rhoticity not affecting this word; keep /ʌ/ as a loose mid back vowel. - UK: preserve /ʌ/ quality and avoid US-like rhotic vowel reductions; ensure precise /t/ articulation before /l/. - AU: often prefers a marginally centralized /ɐ/; keep the /t/ crisp and the /li/ clearly enunciated. Reference IPA forms to anchor the sound. - Note the non-rhotic tendency in some British contexts does not affect this word significantly; maintain a strong first syllable and a clear second syllable.
The adverb justly derives from the adjective just, from Old French just 'lawful, fair,' from Latin justus 'lawful, right, proper,' related to ius 'law, right.' The evolution involved Old French usage in legal and ethical contexts during the Middle Ages, expanding to general moral fairness in English. In Early Modern English, justly began to appear as a standard adverb modifying verbs, adjectives, and nouns to express fairness as a quality of action or judgment. The root of just is tied to concepts of law and rightfulness in Roman and medieval European legal philosophy, influencing modern English to carry a strong connotation of moral and procedural propriety. First known uses date from Middle English to Early Modern English corpora, aligning with jurisprudential discourse and ethical argumentation. Over centuries, justly has remained a formal, precise adverb, less common in everyday colloquial speech but frequent in legal, philosophical, and literary contexts where fairness is foregrounded.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "justly" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "justly" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "justly"
-ily sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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