2 syllables: Part, ly. Stress on Part.
PAHRT-lee
/ˈpɑɹtli/
Partly is pronounced PAHRT-lee (/ˈpɑɹtli/). It has two syllables (Part-ly), with the stress on "Part". Partly is an adverb meaning to a limited extent or in part, not wholly. It is used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, signaling partial degree. In practical use, it often introduces contrast or partial agreement, as in “partly true” or “partly because.”.
adverbPartly is an adverb meaning to a limited extent or in part, not wholly. It is used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, signaling partial degree. In practical use, it often introduces contrast or partial agreement, as in “partly true” or “partly because.”
- Misplacing stress or elongating the second syllable too much; aim for PART-lee with a crisp, brief /t/ in the middle. - Blurring the boundary between /t/ and /l/ in fast speech; keep a small pause or a quick transition to avoid coalescing into another sound. - Reducing the first syllable vowel (/ɑː/ or /ɑ/) too much, which makes it sound like /pɪ/ or /pə/; keep the open back vowel lively. - Over-articulating the vowel before the /t/ (as if saying party), which adds an extra syllable; maintain a single, strong nucleus in the first syllable. - In US speech, some speakers flip the /t/ to a flap /ɾ/ in casual connected speech; practice with clear /t/ to anchor the boundary, then compare to natural speech.”,
"The project was partly successful, but several goals remained unmet."
"She’s partly to blame for the delay, given her late arrival."
"Partly cloudy skies expected this afternoon with a chance of showers."
Partly is pronounced with two syllables: PART-lee. In IPA for General American: /ˈpɑːrt.li/ (British tends toward /ˈpɑːt.li/). Primary stress on the first syllable, with a clear /ɑː/ or /ɑːr/ in the first vowel, followed by a soft, light /t/ and a quick, unstressed /li/ in the second syllable. Keep the /t/ released rather than a hard stop, and avoid inserting a vowel between /t/ and /l/. Audio tips: listen for US/UK/AU variants in connected speech; aim for a crisp initial nucleus and a short, clean second syllable.”,
Two common errors are: (1) turning the /t/ into a flap or alveolar tap in fast speech, which blurs the boundary between the two syllables; (2) lengthening the second syllable too much, resulting in 'PART-lee' becoming 'PART-LEEE' rather than a light /li/. Correction: maintain a crisp, aspirated but light /t/ followed by a quick /l/ into a short, unstressed /i/. Practice with minimal pairs: PART- vs. PARTL-; use a quick transition to the /l/ without adding extra vowel. Also ensure your first vowel remains open, not reduced.”,
US: often rhotic, with /ˈpɑɹt.li/ and a slightly rhotic 'r' in some regions; UK: /ˈpɑːt.li/ with non-rhotic accents; AU: /ˈpɑːt.li/ similar to UK but with broader vowel quality and more clipped final /li/. Vowel length and rhoticity influence the first syllable; US speakers may show a shorter /ɹ/ transition in connected speech, while UK speakers may have a more open /ɑː/. Others may reduce the /t/ to a flapped /ɾ/ in fast speech in informal contexts. Emphasize the two-syllable rhythm across all variants and keep the second syllable unstressed. Pronunciation will vary mildly with regional vowels, but core structure /ˈpɑː(t)li/ remains stable.”,
The challenge lies in the subtle boundary between the two syllables and the /t/ followed by /l/. In fast speech, speakers may merge /t/ with /l/ or insert a vowel, turning it into a triphthong feel. The first syllable also requires maintaining a clear /ɑː/ or /ɑ/ sound without turning into a lax vowel. Working on the precise tongue position—tip behind the upper teeth for /t/, blade close to the alveolar ridge for /l/—helps. Practice with careful segmentation, then gradual running speech to maintain distinct, crisp syllables.”,
A unique query for partly is whether the /t/ is aspirated or lightly released before /l/. You’ll want a light, crisp /t/ that transitions smoothly into /l/; avoid a heavy explosive release that causes an extra vowel sound. The /ɹ/ or /r/ in American variants can subtly alter the syllable boundary in fast speech, especially in flapped pronunciations. Try pronouncing PART with a strong but brief stop, then glide into the quick /li/ without an extra vowel.”,
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- US: rhoticity affects the r-coloring of the vowel in the first syllable; you may hear /ˈpɑɹt.li/ with a slight r-color before /t/. - UK: non-rhotic; the first vowel tends to be a pure /ɑː/ with less r-coloring; keep /t/ crisp and the second syllable lighter. - AU: similar to UK but with broader vowel quality; the /ɹ/ may be less pronounced; ensure a tight /t/ release into /l/. - Across all: the key is two clear syllables; avoid a vowel between the /t/ and /l/. Use IPA references /ˈpɑːt.li/ or /ˈpɒːt.li/ depending on accent. - Practice tip: include connected speech drills where you link PART and LY smoothly without extra vowel sounds.”,
Partly derives from the combination of part (from Old French partie, from Latin partit- ‘part’ from partire ‘divide, share’) and -ly, a suffix forming adverbs from adjectives. The root word part traces to Latin partitio and Old French partie, shifting in Middle English to convey “in part” or “partially.” The adverbial -ly suffix became productive in English by the 14th century, turning adjectives such as ‘part’ into ‘partly’ to express degree. Over time, partly acquired nuanced use to indicate not entire extent but a partial alignment or truth, often implying contrast or caveat in statements. First known uses appear in Middle English texts where writers described actions or qualities being true to a degree rather than completely. The semantic evolution reflects a common pattern in English where a noun or adjective modifier becomes an adverb to express partial applicability. Today, partly is a frequent, neutral adverb in both spoken and written English, used across registers to hedge assertions, introduce nuance, or soften claims. Its versatility allows it to pair with adjectives (partly cloudy), verbs (partly agree), and nouns in idiomatic expressions (partly because).
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Words that rhyme with "Partly"
-tly sounds
-rty sounds
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