STAYT-lee
/ˈsteɪtli/
stately is pronounced STAYT-lee (/ˈsteɪtli/). Stately describes something majestic, dignified, or imposing in appearance or manner. It conveys a sense of formal gravity, often associated with grand architecture, ceremonial settings, or noble bearing. The word suggests measured, composed grace rather than speed or casual ease, and it can decorate speech to imply prestige or importance in the subject being described.
Stately describes something majestic, dignified, or imposing in appearance or manner. It conveys a sense of formal gravity, often associated with grand architecture, ceremonial settings, or noble bearing. The word suggests measured, composed grace rather than speed or casual ease, and it can decorate speech to imply prestige or importance in the subject being described.
"The stately mansion rose at the end of the long drive, its columns gleaming in the sun."
"He spoke in a stately tone, carefully choosing each word for ceremonial effect."
"The stately procession moved slowly through the city streets, unhurried and solemn."
Pronounce as /ˈsteɪt.li/ with the primary stress on STEY- syllable. Start with /s/ then /t/ in quick succession, followed by the diphthong /eɪ/ as in 'stay,' then a light /t/ before the final /li/—the final syllable is unstressed. In connected speech, you may hear a slight reduction in the second syllable, but keep /li/ clear to avoid confusion with 'state-ly' vs. 'stat-ely'.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing the stress on the second syllable, producing /ˈstiːt.li/ or /steɪˈtli/. (2) De-emphasizing the /eɪ/ diphthong, leading to a clipped /stɪt.li/. (3) Merging /t/ with following /l/ into a confusing /tll/ cluster. Correction: keep STEI as a clean /steɪt/ with a crisp /t/ release before the final /li/; practice with slow tempo focusing on the transition from /t/ to /l/.
In US English, stress remains on the first syllable with a clear /eɪ/ in /steɪt/. UK English mirrors this with non-rhotic tendencies, but /r/ is not present. Australian pronounces similarly to UK/US but with slightly more relaxed vowel quality on /eɪ/ and a holding of the /t/ before /l/. Across accents, the main differences lie in rhoticity and vowel quality; all retain the /ˈsteɪt.li/ pattern, with subtle characteristic vowel durations.
The difficulty lies in the fast, two-consonant cluster /st/ followed by a clear /eɪ/ diphthong and the /t/ rebound into a light /l/. Learners often misplace stress or merge /t/ and /l/ into a single sound. Maintaining a distinct /t/ release before the /l/ is crucial; also ensure the /eɪ/ stays accurate and not reduced in fast speech.
A useful nuance is keeping the /t/ crisp and not letting the /t/ blend into the following /l/ (avoid t-l slur). The first syllable carries primary stress; ensuring a clear onset for /ˈsteɪ/ helps prevent mispronunciations like /ˈstaːtli/ or /ˈstætlɪ/. Listening to native speech and mimicking the precise syllable boundary helps maintain accuracy.
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Stately comes from Middle English stately, which derives from Old French estat, meaning 'state, condition, standing' and from Latin status, meaning 'a standing, position, state.' The suffix -ly evolved to form adjectives indicating a quality or condition, roughly translating to 'having the quality of a state.' The word entered English with senses relating to noble bearing and grand appearance in the late Middle Ages, tied to social rank and ceremonial display. Over time, stately broadened from specifically noble or ceremonial contexts to describe anything grand, dignified, or impressive in appearance or manner. First known uses appear in Middle English as estatlie/stately with references in heraldic and architectural descriptions, gradually stabilizing into the modern adjective we use today to describe things or persons exuding majesty, formality, or gravity.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "stately" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "stately" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "stately"
-tly sounds
-ic) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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