STUHB-urn-lee
/ˈstʌbɚnli/
stubbornly is pronounced STUHB-urn-lee (/ˈstʌbɚnli/). Stubbornly describes acting with determination and obstinacy, often resisting persuasion or change despite evidence or reason. It conveys a fixed mindset and a reluctance to yield, typically implying a strong-willed or obstinate attitude. The term is commonly used to characterize behavior rather than a temporary mood, and it frequently carries a mildly negative connotation depending on context.
Stubbornly describes acting with determination and obstinacy, often resisting persuasion or change despite evidence or reason. It conveys a fixed mindset and a reluctance to yield, typically implying a strong-willed or obstinate attitude. The term is commonly used to characterize behavior rather than a temporary mood, and it frequently carries a mildly negative connotation depending on context.
- You might over-enunciate the /t/ sound in the middle, producing an unnatural STUB-ern-ly. Solution: allow the /b/ to join directly to /ərn/ without a hard /t/ release. - The middle vowel often reduces to a schwa; some learners keep a full /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ in the /ərn/ portion. Solution: practice with /ərn/ and /ən/ in different contexts to hear the reduction. - Ending with a heavy -ly; you may add extra length to the /i/. Solution: keep the final /li/ light and quick to match natural rhythm.
"She stubbornly refused to admit she was wrong, even after the evidence was presented."
"The team stubbornly stuck to their plan despite the mounting challenges."
"He stubbornly persisted in practicing the piano daily, believing improvement would come."
You pronounce it as /ˈstʌbərn.li/ (US) or /ˈstʌbən.li/ (UK/AU). The main stress is on the first syllable of stubbornly. Start with a short 'stu' as in 'stuff,' then a clear 'bur' or 'ber' segment, followed by an unstressed 'n' and a final 'ly' pronounced as an unstressed 'lee' sound. Think: STU-burn-lee. IPA UR changes: US uses /ˈstʌbərn.li/, UK/AU often reduce the middle vowel to /ə/ leading to /ˈstɒbənli/ or /ˈstʌbənli/ depending on speaker. Listening practice: compare against words like stubborn, stubbornness for rhythm.
Common errors: (1) Printing a hard 't' sound in the middle as /t/—instead it’s a softened /ərn/ sequence; pronounce the r-controlled vowel as /ər/ or /ən/ depending on accent. (2) Misplacing stress by stressing the second syllable: keep primary stress on STU-; the rhythm is STU-bərn-ly. (3) Ending with an overemphasized 'ly' rather than a light, quick /li/; the final syllable is unstressed and clipped. Correction tips: practice with minimal pairs and slow syllable division to ensure proper vowel quality and unstressed ending.
In US English, /ˈstʌbərnli/ with rhotacized /ər/ and clear /l/ before the final /i/. UK and Australian English may reduce the middle vowel to /ə/ as /ˈstɒbənli/ or /ˈstʌbənli/, with a slightly flatter /ə/ and a non-rhotic /ˈstʌbənli/ in some British varieties. Australians often lean toward /ˈstʌbəˌnli/ with a lighter /l/ and vowels slightly more centralized. Overall, the primary stress remains on STU-; the middle vowel becomes a schwa more often in the UK and AU.
The difficulty resides in sequencing: the /st/ onset combined with the /bərn/ cluster, then a final /li/ requires quick, accurate timing. The /ər/ or /ən/ vowel in the middle can vary by accent, making rhythm tricky. Transition from a closed syllable to a weakly stressed ending often leads to consonant- vowel shifts, and non-native speakers may fuse syllables or over-articulate the /t/ or /d/ in the cluster. Practicing timing and light tongue-tip contact helps stabilize articulation.
There is no silent letter in stubbornly. The primary stress falls on the first syllable STU-, with secondary emphasis on the middle syllable in some speech patterns, though it is generally unstressed. The word is segmented as STU-bərn-ly, with the middle vowel commonly reduced to /ə/ in many accents, and the final -ly forming a light, unstressed ending. Understanding this helps you maintain natural rhythm and avoid over-pronouncing the middle consonant cluster.
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- US: /ˈstʌbərnli/ with rhotic /r/ and clear /l/ before /i/. - UK: /ˈstɒbənli/ or /ˈstʌbənli/; vowel quality tends toward /ɒ/ or /ə/; non-rhotic? often less pronounced /r/. - AU: /ˈstʌbəˌnli/; vowels lean toward centralized /ə/; similar rhotic tendencies as US in some speakers. Focus on rhotic vs non-rhotic rhymes and the subtly different vowel heights. IPA references help; experiment with /ər/ vs /ən/ depending on accent.
Stubbornly derives from the adjective stubborn, which dates back to Middle English stubborn (12th–15th centuries). The root is often linked to Old English stubborn, with cognates in several Germanic languages, all pointing to “stubborn, stubbornness.” The sense evolved from “stubborn person” to an adverbial form by adding -ly in the Middle English and Early Modern English periods, enabling the description of an action done in a stubborn manner. The concept of stubbornness itself traces to ideas of stubborn, strong-willed, or stubborn resistance to change, often associated with obstinacy rather than mere stubborn temperament. First known usages appear in Middle English texts, with increasing frequency in Early Modern English as a descriptor for behavior. Over time, stubbornly expanded to describe actions performed with obstinate persistence, frequently highlighting a willful, unyielding stance rather than temporary stubbornness. In contemporary usage, stubbornly commonly appears in narratives to emphasize deliberate resistance to persuasion.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "stubbornly" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "stubbornly"
-nly sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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