KWEYE-uht-lee
/ˈkwaɪətli/
quietly is pronounced KWEYE-uht-lee (/ˈkwaɪətli/). Quietly means doing something with little or no noise, often in a subdued, discreet, or hushed manner. It implies movement or speech that avoids attracting attention, emphasizing calm, soft, and unobtrusive action. The word typically functions as an adverb describing manner of action, though it can also describe a person’s demeanor in a quiet way.
Quietly means doing something with little or no noise, often in a subdued, discreet, or hushed manner. It implies movement or speech that avoids attracting attention, emphasizing calm, soft, and unobtrusive action. The word typically functions as an adverb describing manner of action, though it can also describe a person’s demeanor in a quiet way.
"She closed the door quietly to avoid waking the baby."
"He spoke quietly, so only the adjacent tables could hear him."
"They waited quietly for the results, shoulders relaxed and breaths even."
Pronounce as /ˈkwaɪt.li/ in most dialects, with two syllables: QUIET + ly. The first syllable contains the diphthong /aɪ/ as in “my,” followed by /t/. The second syllable is a light /li/ with a soft 'l' and a clear but quick 'ee' vowel; you may hear a subtle /ə/ in casual speech: /ˈkwaɪ.t.lɪ/ in rapid connected speech. Primary stress on the first syllable: QUIET-ly. Mouth position: start with a wide vowel glide for /aɪ/, then release a crisp /t/, and finish with a light alveolar /l/ and a short /i/.
Two frequent errors: 1) Conflating the second syllable as /ti/ instead of /tli/ or /tli/; ensure you release into a light /l/ before the final /i/. 2) Under-stressing or misplacing the primary stress; keep strong onset on QUIET and a quick, light trailing /li/. Correction tips: practice saying QUIET with a strong diphthong /aɪ/, then add the final /li/ as a distinct, lighter syllable; use a brief pause after /t/ to allow the /l/ to surface clearly.
In US/UK/AU, the core /ˈkwaɪt.li/ remains, but vowel quality and rhotics vary. US vowels tend to be rhotic in some contexts but this word is not rhotic itself; the /ɹ/ does not appear. UK English may have a slightly sharper /t/ and crisper /l/. Australian English keeps a similar structure but with a more centralized final vowel, sometimes realized as /ˈkwaɪt.lɪ/. Pay attention to a marginal reduction in the final /i/ toward /ɪ/ in rapid speech in AU and some UK varieties.
The difficulty lies in the rapid sequence of consonants /t/ and /l/ after a vowel glide /aɪ/. The clean articulation requires closing the tongue tip for /t/ and then smoothly lifting the blade for the /l/ without inserting an extra vowel, which is easy to slip into /tli/ or /tɪ/ mistakes. Additionally, maintaining a light stress on the first syllable while keeping a brief, barely audible second syllable /li/ demands precise timing and muscular control.
Quietly features a combinational timing of a full stressed syllable QUIET with a lightly released final /ly/. A unique consideration is preventing vowel reduction in the second syllable when spoken slowly; you may be tempted to say /ˈkwaɪtli/ with a very short /i/ or /ɪ/; instead, keep a clear /li/ to maintain the adverbial clarity, especially in careful speech.
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Quietly derives from the adjective quiet, itself from Old French quiet, from Latin quietus meaning ‘restful, at rest, quiet.’ The adverbial suffix -ly is a common English formation that turns adjectives into adverbs indicating manner. In Middle English, the sense of ‘in a quiet manner’ developed as speakers used -ly to describe how actions occurred. The core meaning evolved from a general sense of lack of noise or disturbance to a broader implication of discretion and subdued behavior. First attested uses occur in the late medieval period as English speakers described actions performed without drawing attention, reflecting social norms around politeness and restraint. Over time, quietly became the habitual way to describe manner of speaking or moving that minimizes disruption, a nuance that remains central in contemporary usage. Etymology notes: quiet (cognate with Latin quietus via Old French quiet) → -ly suffix; semantic shift toward adverbial usage with emphasis on manner rather than degree of noise alone.
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Words that rhyme with "quietly"
-tly sounds
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