SMOOTH-lee
/ˈsmuðli/
smoothly is pronounced SMOOTH-lee (/ˈsmuðli/). Smoothly describes performing a task with ease, without interruption or roughness; it implies a flowing, uninterrupted motion or manner. In usage, it often modifies verbs to convey seamless execution or graceful transition, and can carry subtle connotations of efficiency and polish. The word combines the -ly adverb suffix with the adjective smooth, signaling manner rather than degree or distance.
Smoothly describes performing a task with ease, without interruption or roughness; it implies a flowing, uninterrupted motion or manner. In usage, it often modifies verbs to convey seamless execution or graceful transition, and can carry subtle connotations of efficiency and polish. The word combines the -ly adverb suffix with the adjective smooth, signaling manner rather than degree or distance.
- You might lengthen or distort the first syllable, turning /smuːð/ into /smuːðː/ or misplacing the long vowel; keep it steady and full without adding extra length. - A common slip is over-emphasizing the /ð/ or turning it into a /d/; practice a light, voiced dental fricative with minimal tension. - Some speakers blend too aggressively between /ð/ and /l/, producing an ambiguous sound; practice a clean, short /ð/ followed by a distinct /l/.
"The dancer moved smoothly across the floor, never faltering."
"She spoke smoothly, with a calm, confident rhythm."
"The software update proceeded smoothly, with no errors reported."
Pronounce it as /ˈsmuːð.li/. Start with the long /uː/ in “smooth” transitioning into a light /ð/ (the voiced th), then a clear /l/ followed by a light /i/ in the final syllable. The primary stress is on the first syllable: SMOOTH-ly. Keep the tongue high and back for /uː/, relax the jaw, and allow the /ð/ to voice smoothly into the /l/; avoid a hard consonant cluster between /ð/ and /l/. Audio reference: you should hear a seamless transition from a tense, rounded vowel into a plain alveolar fricative then a clear lateral.
Two frequent errors are turning /smuːð/ into a short /smuð/ by shortening the /uː/ and softening the /ð/ into a /d/ or /t/; and over-articulating the /l/ or inserting an extra vowel between /ð/ and /l/, like /ˈsmuːdli/. Correct by maintaining the long /uː/ through the first syllable and producing a clean, light /ð/ before the /l/. Practice connecting smoothly from /smuː/ to /ð.li/ without breaking the syllables; keep the jaw relatively relaxed and the tongue tip near the alveolar ridge for /ð/ without excessive tension.
In US, UK, and AU, the primary stress remains on the first syllable /ˈsmuːð.li/. The /uː/ vowel is consistently long, but US rhotics can subtly color the preceding vowel with rhotic quality, and some UK speakers may have a crisper /ð/ with slightly more dental emphasis. Australian speakers often have a clipped but clear /ˈsmuːð.li/ with less vowel reduction in fast speech. Overall, the main variation lies in the realization of /uː/ and the exact voicing of /ð/ in connected speech.
The challenge lies in blending a long vowel /uː/ with a voiced dental fricative /ð/, then moving directly into the alveolar lateral /l/. This sequence requires precise tongue positioning: a high back tongue for /uː/, a gentle contact for /ð/ with the tongue tip near the upper teeth, and a quick transition to the /l/. The tongue must stay relaxed to avoid a glottal stop or a strained /ð/. In rapid speech, coarticulation can blur the boundaries, making the word sound like /ˈsmuːlə/ or /ˈsmuːdli/ if not careful.
A key unique aspect is maintaining a fluid, uninterrupted flow between the dental fricative /ð/ and the alveolar lateral /l/. The /ð/ requires continuous voicing and a gentle, precise touch of the tongue against the upper teeth, not a stiff gesture. The transition to /li/ should be quick and light, with the /l/ not forming a heavy lateral release; keep the /i/ as a short, bright vowel that doesn’t swallow into the /l/ sound. Consistent tempo reinforces a smooth, natural cadence.
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- US: emphasize rhotic resonance subtly on the preceding vowel and keep a crisp /ð/; US speakers often have a slightly stronger alveolar quality on /l/; maintain a clear /ˈsmuːð.li/. - UK: a slightly more dental, precise /ð/; ensure the tongue tip lightly touches the teeth; the /l/ can be darker and lightly touch the alveolar ridge; maintain non-rhoticity in surrounding vowels. - AU: tends toward a quicker, lighter /ð/ with less dental emphasis; keep /uː/ clean and the /l/ short and soft; overall rhythm is slightly more relaxed; IPA guidance: /ˈsmuːð.li/.
Smoothly derives from the adjective smooth, which originates in Old English smōþe (quality of being smooth, even, free from roughness). The root is related to Proto-Germanic smōþaz and Proto-Indo-European stem sm- indicating evenness and polish. The adverbial suffix -ly attaches to adjectives to form manner adverbs in Middle English and later Modern English, preserving the sense of doing something in a smooth manner. Over centuries, smoothly has maintained its core meaning of performing actions with ease and continuity, often used in both physical and figurative contexts (e.g., smoothly running machines, smoothly delivered speeches). First known usage as an adverbial modifier likely appears in Early Modern English texts, with consistent use by the 17th-18th centuries as prose and rhetoric leaned into descriptive precision. The word has remained stable in form while expanding collocations to include evaluative judgments about execution quality, tone, and fluidity in speech and movement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "smoothly" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "smoothly" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "smoothly"
-ily sounds
-ely sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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