2 syllables: kind, ly. Stress on kind.
KEYEND-lee
/ˈkaɪndli/
kindly is pronounced KEYEND-lee (/ˈkaɪndli/). It has two syllables (kind-ly), with the stress on "kind". Kindly is an adverb or adjective meaning in a kind manner or demonstrating kindness; it can also function as an imperative request, softened by a polite tone. It typically modifies verbs or whole clauses when used as an adverb, or describes a person or action when used as an adjective. In speech, it often conveys gentle politeness or a request with warmth. (2-4 sentences, concise and precise.).
Kindly is an adverb or adjective meaning in a kind manner or demonstrating kindness; it can also function as an imperative request, softened by a polite tone. It typically modifies verbs or whole clauses when used as an adverb, or describes a person or action when used as an adjective. In speech, it often conveys gentle politeness or a request with warmth. (2-4 sentences, concise and precise.)
"Please sit down, kindly wait here while I fetch your file."
"Kindly refrain from interrupting the speaker during the presentation."
"She gave a kindly smile and offered to help."
Pronounce kindly as /ˈkaɪndli/. Stress falls on the first syllable: KYND-lee. Start with the long I sound as in 'find' for the first vowel, then the /nd/ cluster, and finish with the soft /lɪ/ in the second syllable. Keep the /ɪ/ lax, and avoid exaggerating the tippy 'ee' sound—it's a short, quick /i/. Imagine saying “kind” quickly, then add a light ‘-ly’ without adding extra stress. IPA reference: US /ˈkaɪndli/; UK /ˈkaɪndli/; AU /ˈkaɪndli/.
Two common mistakes: 1) Overemphasizing the second syllable: people may say /ˈkaɪnd.li/ with a drawn-out final syllable. Correction: keep /li/ short and unstressed, so the second syllable is quick: /ˈkaɪndli/. 2) Mispronouncing the initial vowel as a short vowel in ‘kin-’; aim for the long /aɪ/ diphthong as in ‘kind’ or ‘time’, producing /kaɪnd/. Practice by saying ‘kind’ with the final /li/ clipped, not prolonged.
In all three accents, kindly preserves the /ˈkaɪndli/ pattern. US and UK share the same primary stress on the first syllable and the /kaɪ/ diphthong. Australian speakers typically maintain the same structure but may have slightly broader /aɪ/ with a more centralized vowel in fast speech. The final /li/ tends to be a short, crisp schwa-like /lɪ/ in casual speech, though careful enunciation makes it /li/ clearer. No rhoticity impact here, as /ˈkaɪndli/ remains non-rhotic in pronunciation of the word itself.
The difficulty lies in the short, crisp /li/ after the strong /kaɪnd/ onset; many learners merge or blur the /d/ and /l/ into a single sound, producing /ˈkaɪndl/ or /ˈkaɪndi/. The /aɪ/ diphthong requires precise tongue height transition from low to high within a single syllable; rapid speech can degrade it to a monophthong. Practicing the boundary between /nd/ and /l/ helps maintain clear syllable separation and prevents a swallowed ending. IPA cues: /ˈkaɪndli/.
A key nuance is the /nd/ cluster immediately followed by the /l/; many learners insert a tiny vowel between /d/ and /l/ or misplace the tongue for /l/ after /n/. Focus on maintaining a clean alveolar nasal stop /n/, then quickly slide into the /d/ release into /l/: /ɪndl/ sequence, with the syllable boundary clear. In rapid speech, the /d/ can be lightly released, and the /l/ can glide into a light /i/; this keeps the tempo natural without sacrificing clarity. IPA: /kaɪndli/.
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Kindly originates from the word kind, which traces to Old English gecyndlic, derived from gecynd meaning race, nature, or kind. The semantic shift from “of a kind” or “natural” to “benevolent, considerate” occurred in Middle English as expressions of courtesy evolved. By the 15th century, kindly began appearing as an adverbial modifier, used to request behavior or to describe actions done in a considerate manner. The root word kind itself is related to kin in social sense, but linguistically it extends through Proto-Germanic *ga-kenđ- (unknown precise root), with parallels in Dutch vriendelijk and German freundlich. Over centuries, kindly consolidated as a polite intensifier or modifier in speech, maintaining the nuance of good will and obligingness. First known uses appear in Middle English texts, but the modern conversational sense matured in Early Modern English as social etiquette and politeness conventions intensified in daily speech and literature. 200-300 words.
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Words that rhyme with "kindly"
-dly sounds
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