STREYE-king-lee
/ˈstɹaɪkɪŋli/
strikingly is pronounced STREYE-king-lee (/ˈstɹaɪkɪŋli/). Strikingly is an adverb meaning in a way that draws strong attention or makes a vivid impression; notably, remarkably, or extraordinarily. It describes actions, appearances, or results that stand out sharply. The pronunciation focus here is on a two-syllable primary stress pattern, with a suffix -ly that often preserves the preceding stress in rapid speech.
Strikingly is an adverb meaning in a way that draws strong attention or makes a vivid impression; notably, remarkably, or extraordinarily. It describes actions, appearances, or results that stand out sharply. The pronunciation focus here is on a two-syllable primary stress pattern, with a suffix -ly that often preserves the preceding stress in rapid speech.
- You might drop the second syllable vowel and pronounce it as STRY-king-lee without the short /ɪ/ in -king. Correct by modeling /ˈstraɪ.kɪŋ.li/ with a distinct /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a crisp /ŋ/ before the final -li. - Misplacing the stress: some learners stress the second syllable or the final syllable unintentionally. Practice with the primary stress on STRY- (/ˈstraɪ/). Use timed drills to feel the beat of STRI- and -king- as core anchors. - Final -ly reduced or swallowed in fast speech, turning it into a blunt /li/ or /lɪ/. Ensure the final syllable receives an audible but light /li/ to avoid truncation.
"Her performance was strikingly original, turning heads from the opening scene."
"The landscape had strikingly vivid colors after the storm."
"Strikingly, the data contradicted the initial hypothesis."
pronounced STRY-king-lee, with primary stress on STRY. IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈstraɪ.kɪŋ.li/. Start with the Diphthong /aɪ/ in STRY-, then a clear /k/ before the -ing, and finish with a light /li/ or /liː/ depending on speed. Mouth position: wide open start for STRI, high front vowel glide in /aɪ/, then a crisp /k/ and a relaxed /ɪŋ/ before the /li/ ending. In careful speech, ensure the /k/ is released crisply and the /ɪ/ is short, not reduced to schwa.
Two frequent errors are misplacing the stress and softening the final -ly. People often say /ˈstrɪkɪŋli/ with a reduced /æ/ or wrong vowel in the second syllable. Correction: ensure primary stress on STRY- with /ˈstraɪ/, use a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a clear /ŋ/ before the -ly. Avoid turning the /kɪŋ/ into /kən/ or dragging the final -li as /liː/ in casual speech; keep it compact as /-ŋli/.
US/UK/AU share /ˈstraɪ.kɪŋ.li/, but rhotic accents may influence the following vowel quality slightly in connected speech. In some UK varieties, the /ɪ/ can be slightly centralized; AU speakers may compress the final syllable in fast speech, yielding a lighter /li/ and quicker /ŋ/. Overall, the primary stress and consonant cluster remain intact across accents; the main differences are vowel quality and speed, not core phonemes.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure and the rapid sequence STR-ING-LY. You have a diphthong /aɪ/ in the first syllable, a crisp /k/ before the -ing, and a light /li/ ending that can reduce in fast speech. The challenge is maintaining distinct vowels in each syllable while keeping a tight, rapid cadence and not turning the syllables into a single blob.
The final -ly forms a separate syllable with a light, unstressed /li/. It’s not merged with the -ing into a single syllable; pronunciation keeps three clear syllables STRI-king-ly, though rapid speech can reduce to a quick STRI-kin-ly. Pay attention to not eliding the /l/ in the final syllable, which would make it sound like STRI-kin-y.
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- US: emphasize the /ɪ/ in the second syllable and the /li/ at the end with a light touch; keep the /ˈstraɪ/ leading the sequence. - UK: keep a crisp /ˈstraɪ.kɪŋ.li/ with slightly more rounded vowels; avoid turning /ɪŋ/ into a more centralized vowel. - AU: often faster with less vowel length; maintain three distinct syllables, but let the final -ly be quicker and lighter. Use IPA cues /ˈstraɪ.kɪŋ.li/ and practice with native samples to feel the rhythm.
Strikingly derives from the adjective striking, itself from Middle English strik-. The root strik- traces to Old Norse strike- and Old English strican, meaning to beat, hit, or press. The -ing form marks ongoing action, while -ly forms an adverb indicating manner. The word evolved in English to describe something that makes a strong impression as if it were “struck” by its impact. By the 16th–17th centuries, striking could imply vividness or forceful movement, and strikingly emerged to qualify actions or appearances with emphasis. The progression reflects a metaphorical extension from physical striking to metaphorical impact, where things can be striking in terms of appearance, behavior, or results. First known usage attested in early modern texts, with gradual generalization in standard prose and rhetoric to describe notable attributes or outcomes.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "strikingly" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "strikingly"
-gly sounds
-ing sounds
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