2 syllables: like, ly. Stress on like.
LEYE-klee
/ˈlaɪkli/
likely is pronounced LEYE-klee (/ˈlaɪkli/). It has two syllables (like-ly), with the stress on "like". Likely is an adjective meaning probable or expected to happen. It is used to express that something has a strong chance of occurring or being true, often in predicting outcomes or describing circumstances. The word can function as a predicative adjective or as part of adverbial phrases, and its pronunciation can carry subtle stress and vowel variations in different accents.
Likely is an adjective meaning probable or expected to happen. It is used to express that something has a strong chance of occurring or being true, often in predicting outcomes or describing circumstances. The word can function as a predicative adjective or as part of adverbial phrases, and its pronunciation can carry subtle stress and vowel variations in different accents.
"It’s likely to rain tomorrow, so take a umbrella."
"She’s the likely candidate for the supervisor position."
"This strategy is likely to improve your performance over time."
Likely is pronounced /ˈlaɪk.li/ in US/UK/AU. The first syllable has a strong stressed diphthong /aɪ/ as in 'lie,' followed by a clear /k/ onset with a light /l/ onset on the second syllable. The second syllable ends with a short /i/ vowel, often realized as a light, unstressed 'lee' sound. Try to keep the two syllables distinct unless connected in fast speech. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈlaɪk.li/.
Common errors include: 1) Slurring the two syllables into a single sound, producing /ˈlaɪkli/ without a distinct /.li/; 2) Dropping the /l/ or turning it into a vowel-only ending, like /ˈlaɪkɪ/; 3) Not maintaining the /aɪ/ diphthong clearly, leading to a misheard 'like-lee' as two separate vowels. Fix: articulate /laɪ/ first, then clearly release /k/ before the final /li/. Practice with: 'lie' + 'lee' segments in sequence to feel the boundary.
US/UK/AU share /ˈlaɪk.li/, with the main variation being rhoticity and vowel quality. US rhotics keep the /r/ sound only if following a vowel, but not in this word; the main differences are subtle vowel length and the /i/ in the second syllable. UK tends to crisper consonants and sometimes a shorter, tenser first vowel. Australian tends to a slightly smoother, less defined /ɪ/ or /i/ in the second syllable, but the two-syllable structure remains. In all, avoid inserting a /j/ or altering the /laɪ/ diphthong perception.)
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable rhythm with a strong first syllable and a quick, light second syllable. The /aɪ/ diphthong is prominent and must transition cleanly into /k/ and then /li/. Some speakers mispronounce as /ˈlaɪkli/ without the syllable boundary or as /ˈlaɪkɪ/ by reducing /li/ to a simple /ɪ/. Mastering the precise tongue position for /aɪ/ and the clear /l/ plus /k/ cluster in the second syllable makes the word sound natural across contexts.
A unique feature is the potential slight vowel reduction or blending in rapid speech, where /li/ may reduce toward a schwa-like sound before a following word starting with a consonant, or in connected speech the /l/ might be light and less shelf-defined. The IPA remains /ˈlaɪk.li/, but in fluent conversation you may hear /ˈlaɪ.kli/ or /ˈlaɪ.kwɪ/ depending on tempo. The key is to preserve two syllables and the /aɪ/ diphthong clarity in careful speech.
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Likely comes from the Middle English likelye, from the phrase 'like ly' meaning 'in a way that is similar' (adj. from old English gelic, meaning 'similar, like'). The modern form settled into the single word likely by the 16th century, retaining a sense of resemblance to what is probable or expected. The root is akin to the Old English lîc (body, form) in some historical interpretations, but the probabilistic sense aligns with ‘likeness’ and ‘likelihood.’ Over time, the word broadened from describing resemblance to describing probability, influenced by phrases like 'as likely' and 'as likely as not.' By the 17th–18th centuries, it was routinely used in predictive contexts in English literature and scholarly writing. The term is now a common modifier in everyday speech, with usage spanning risk assessment, forecasts, and evaluative judgments across formal and informal registers.
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Words that rhyme with "likely"
-ike sounds
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