3 syllables: leg, al, ly. Stress on leg.
LEE-guh-lee
/ˈliɡəli/
legally is pronounced LEE-guh-lee (/ˈliɡəli/). It has three syllables (leg-al-ly), with the stress on "leg". Legally means in a manner that is permitted by law or in accordance with the law. It implies conformity with statutes and regulations, often used when describing actions, statements, or opinions that have legal validity or authorization. The term is frequently used in formal, professional, or academic contexts related to law and government.
Legally means in a manner that is permitted by law or in accordance with the law. It implies conformity with statutes and regulations, often used when describing actions, statements, or opinions that have legal validity or authorization. The term is frequently used in formal, professional, or academic contexts related to law and government.
- You often misplace the stress: keep the emphasis on the first syllable (/ˈliː/), don’t stress the second syllable. - The middle vowel can become a full /iː/ or /ɛ/; aim for a relaxed /ə/ (schwa). - The final -ly can be spoken as /li/ or /li/ with light touch; avoid a heavy /liː/ or /lɪ/. - Recording yourself helps detect subtle shifts; practice with slow tempo and then incrementally speed up while maintaining accuracy.
"She argued legally that the contract was enforceable."
"The legally required documents must be filed by Friday."
"They acted legally by notifying all parties in advance."
Pronounce it as /ˈliː.ɡə.li/ (US/UK) with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a long 'ee' sound for /liː/, then a soft, short /ɡə/ in the second syllable, and end with a clear /li/ or a reduced /li/ depending on tempo. Keep the /g/ hard, avoid turning it into a /dʒ/ sound. You'll typically hear a light, almost neutral vowel in the middle.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (shifting to second syllable), pronouncing the middle vowel as /iː/ instead of schwa, or softening the /g/ into /dʒ/. To correct: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈliː/, insert a concise /ɡə/ in the middle with a quick vowel, and finish with a crisp /li/. Practice slow, then speed up while maintaining the consonant clarity.
In US/UK, the first syllable bears primary stress /ˈliː/. The middle is a reduced vowel /ə/; final /li/ is clear. Australian English is similar but often features a slightly more centralized final /i/ and a subtle vowel shift in /ə/ to a closer schwa. Rhoticity is not a major factor here, as /r/ isn’t pronounced in these positions. The core pattern remains LEA-guh-lee with a steady rhythm.
The challenge lies in sustaining stress on the first syllable while producing a short, neutral middle vowel and a clean final -ly cluster. Some speakers insert extra vowels or mispronounce the /ɡ/ as /dʒ/ or blur the middle /ə/ into /iː/. Focus on the sequence /liː/ - /ɡə/ - /li/ with a tight but relaxed jaw and a distinct /g/. IPA helps pinpoint exact tongue positions.
Does the final -ly in 'legally' ever reduce to a pure /li/ versus a reduced /lɪ/ in rapid speech? In careful speech you’ll hear /ˈliː.ɡə.li/, but in fast, casual speech many speakers reduce the middle to a near-schwa and the final to a lighter /li/; however, the first syllable’s long /iː/ typically remains pronounced, making the word still intelligible. Try both forms and listen for context.
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- US: rhotic, but /r/ not in this word; focus on crisp /ɡ/ and a clear /ə/ in the middle. - UK: emphasize non-rhotic pattern; keep middle as schwa and ensure final /li/ is clear. - AU: tends to slightly more centralized vowels; keep the first /ˈliː/ robust and maintain a compact middle /ə/.
Legally derives from the adjective legal, which comes from the Latin legalis, meaning 'of the law' or 'pertaining to law.' Legalis itself stems from lex, legis meaning 'law.' In Middle English, legally appeared as legaly and legal, evolving through Old French legal, from Latin legalis. The sense expanded from describing something related to law to the adverbial form indicating the manner in which something is done complies with or is permitted by law. First known uses appear in legal and scholarly texts of the 14th to 15th centuries, aligning with the development of common law and statutory systems in Europe. Over time, usage broadened into general formal writing and then into everyday English to denote lawful compliance rather than generic legality. The word’s morphology mirrors other adverbs formed from adjectives with -ly, preserving the core semantic link to law while enabling nuanced legal analysis and reporting.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "legally" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "legally" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "legally"
-ct) sounds
-ox) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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