KWIK-lee
/ˈkwɪkli/
quickly is pronounced KWIK-lee (/ˈkwɪkli/). Quickly means in a fast or prompt manner, performing an action with speed and immediacy. It conveys urgency or brevity, often used to describe how something is done rather than what is done. The term implies a tight alignment between movement and timing, typically highlighting efficiency over leisurely pace.
Quickly means in a fast or prompt manner, performing an action with speed and immediacy. It conveys urgency or brevity, often used to describe how something is done rather than what is done. The term implies a tight alignment between movement and timing, typically highlighting efficiency over leisurely pace.
"She finished the assignment quickly to catch the train."
"Speak quickly if you’re asked to conclude the briefing sooner."
"The mouse scurried quickly across the kitchen floor."
You say /ˈkwɪk.li/ in US and UK English. The first syllable is stressed: /ˈkwɪk/ with a short, lax vowel /ɪ/ and the /w/ following the initial /k/ cluster. The second syllable is a light /li/ with a clear /l/ and a pure /i/ vowel. In connected speech, the /k/ may combine softly into the /l/; keep the /ɪ/ distinct to avoid saying /ˈkwɪkli/ as one syllable. Audio references: you can compare with Forvo or YouGlish for natural speaker realizations.
Common errors: 1) Merging the two syllables into /ˈkwɪkli/ without full vowel quality in the second syllable; keep /li/ as a separate syllable with clear /l/ and /i/. 2) Misplacing the /w/ during /ˈkw/; ensure /kw/ is a single onset rather than a sequence of separate sounds. 3) Reducing the first syllable vowel too much to /ɪ/ or /ə/ in fast speech, which can blur the initial /kw/ cluster. Practice by isolating the /kwɪk/ and then the /li/ and gradually linking them.
US: strong, clear /ˈkwɪk.li/, slightly rhotic with a crisp /k/ release. UK: /ˈkwɪk.li/ with less vowel height, mild glottalization not common; second syllable /li/ often lighter. AU: similar to UK but with a more back vowel in some speakers, and a tendency to reduce the final /i/ slightly, producing /ˈkwɪk.li/ with a very short second vowel in casual speech. Overall, stress remains on the first syllable across all three.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /kw/ at word onset and the contrast between the short lax vowel /ɪ/ and the unstressed, fast-tied second syllable /li/. Maintaining crisp /k/ between /w/ and /ɪ/ and avoiding vowel lengthening in rapid speech requires precise timing. Additionally, keeping the second syllable distinct while the first syllable is emphasized in fast delivery can feel counterintuitive. IPA guidance helps: /ˈkwɪk.li/ shows the needed separation and stresses.
A distinctive feature is maintaining a clear, short /ɪ/ in the first syllable before the /k/ release and ensuring the /l/ in the second syllable is not swallowed by the following consonants. Practically, avoid linking /k/ and /l/ too tightly; keep the /l/ audible. This helps prevent hearing /ˈkwɪkli/ as a single syllable and preserves the natural two-syllable rhythm of /ˈkwɪk.li/.
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US: crisp /ˈkwɪk.li/ with a slightly stronger /ɪ/ in the first syllable; UK: lighter /ɪ/ and more understated second syllable; AU: similar to UK but often with less vowel height and a slightly longer /i/ due to vowel quality shifts in some speakers. Across all, keep /kw/ together, avoid unnecessary vowel lengthening in the second syllable, and use a clear /l/ in /li/. IPA anchors: /ˈkwɪk.li/.
Quickly derives from the adjective quick, meaning “alive, active, or swift.” The word quick entered Middle English from Old English swift through Germanic roots, with quick meaning “alive” or “living.” As English evolved, quickly formed with -ly as an adverbial suffix, signaling manner. The oldest records reflect quick with sense related to speed and immediacy, and by the late Middle English period, quickly was standardized to describe actions done in a brief, fast fashion. The semantic shift toward urgency and rapidity mirrors broader usage changes in English where adverbial -ly forms became the default way to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. First known written uses appear in medieval texts, aligning with the period when inflected forms were being regularized and modern adverbial formation took shape.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "quickly" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "quickly"
-kly sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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