3 syllables: Scho, lar, ly. Stress on Scho.
SKAH-lur-lee
/ˈskɑlɚli/
Scholarly is pronounced SKAH-lur-lee (/ˈskɑlɚli/). It has three syllables (Scho-lar-ly), with the stress on "Scho". Scholarly means related to, or typical of, scholars or academic study. It conveys a serious, bookish quality and often implies depth, rigor, or a focus on learning. In use, it can describe work, attitude, or tone that is scholarly rather than casual or popular.
adjectiveScholarly means related to, or typical of, scholars or academic study. It conveys a serious, bookish quality and often implies depth, rigor, or a focus on learning. In use, it can describe work, attitude, or tone that is scholarly rather than casual or popular.
"Her scholarly article examined the latest findings in cognitive science."
"The professor gave a scholarly introduction, outlining the key theories."
"She has a scholarly approach, citing multiple peer-reviewed sources."
Pronounce as /ˈskɒ.lə.li/ in UK and /ˈskɑːlɚ.li/ in US broadly. Start with a stressed first syllable that rhymes with ‘sock’ but with a longer a-quality in General American. The middle syllable uses a schwa /ə/ (la), and end with an unstressed /li/ where the lips lighten for the final light 'ee' sound. Tip: keep the mouth rounded for the first vowel, then relax into a neutral schwa for the second syllable, finishing with a clear /li/. Audio examples you’ll hear in native speech help solidify this rhythm.
Two common errors are compressing the first two syllables into a single quick beat (skol-) and mispronouncing the final -ly as a hard ‘lee’ with extra tension. Correct by asserting a distinct first syllable /ˈskɒ- or /ˈskɑːl/ with a short resume into /ə/ in the second syllable, then a light /li/ at the end. Practice by isolating the sequence: /ˈskɒ/ or /ˈskɑːl/ + /ə/ + /li/, ensuring the middle /ə/ is soft and never reduced to a full vowel cluster.
In US English, the first syllable often carries the primary stress with a broad vowel like /ɑː/ (or /ɒ/ in some dialects), followed by a reduced /lə/ and /li/. UK English tends to shorten the first vowel slightly and maintain a non-rhotic /r/ absence, so /ˈskɒ.lə.li/. Australian English often lands somewhere between US and UK, with a slightly longer first vowel and a lighter, less rhotic ending, /ˈskɒ.lə.li/ or /ˈskɑː.lə.li/. Across all, the final -ly remains unstressed with a light, quick /i/ sound.
Key challenges are the duration and quality of the first syllable vowel and the quickly reduced middle syllable /ə/ that can be swallowed by the surrounding sounds. Tongue position for the first vowel resembles ‘scar’ without the r-coloring in non-rhotic dialects. The final /li/ needs a crisp, short 'ee' without tensing the jaw. Regular practice with minimal pairs and careful tracking of vowel lengths across dialects helps stabilize this word.
A distinctive feature is the clear separation between the first stressed syllable and the following reduced syllables, which creates a three-beat rhythm: strong initial, light middle, and crisp final syllable. The final /li/ should remain light and unstressed, so you don’t vocalize it as a heavy syllable. Pay attention to maintaining a relaxed jaw in the middle syllable to avoid a clipped or overly stretched ending.
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Scholarly originates from the noun scholar, derived from the Old English sceolere meaning ‘a student, pupil, or man of learning,’ from the root sceolu ‘school’ and related to scyld/scol (learned, educated). The suffix -ly was added to form an adjective in Middle English, paralleling many adverbial and adjectival forms that describe manner or quality. The concept of a ‘scholar’ itself traces to Latin schola and Greek scholē, meaning ‘leisure, that which is learned’ and by extension ‘study.’ Over time, scholarly acquired nuanced senses: a person deeply engaged in study; a tone or style marked by rigorous, methodical research; and a quality of authority typically associated with academia. First known uses in English date back to the late Middle Ages, with the adjective sense becoming common in Early Modern English as universities and learned societies expanded. By the 18th–19th centuries, scholarly had cemented its role to describe works, methods, or attributes meeting the standards of rigorous scholarship. The word has retained its precise, somewhat formal connotation, often invoked to distinguish academic rigor from popular or everyday discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "Scholarly"
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