soo-PREE-muh-lee
/suˈpɹiməli/
supremely is pronounced soo-PREE-muh-lee (/suˈpɹiməli/). Supremely is an adverb meaning to an extreme or ultimate degree. It conveys the highest degree of a quality, often with a sense of majesty or superiority. In speech, it is typically pronounced with stress on the second syllable, creating a clear, elongated final vowel and a soft, final syllable. The word functions as an intensifier in contexts like judgment, achievement, or description of qualities.
Supremely is an adverb meaning to an extreme or ultimate degree. It conveys the highest degree of a quality, often with a sense of majesty or superiority. In speech, it is typically pronounced with stress on the second syllable, creating a clear, elongated final vowel and a soft, final syllable. The word functions as an intensifier in contexts like judgment, achievement, or description of qualities.
"Her performance was supremely impressive, leaving the audience in awe."
"The restaurant offers supremely confident service, even in busy hours."
"He is supremely capable, able to handle complex problems with ease."
Pronounce it as sə-ˈprēm-(lē). The primary stress is on the second syllable: prēm. The IPA is /səˈprɛm.li/ for US/UK/AU. Start with a neutral schwa, lift into a crisp mid-front vowel for 'pre,' then a light lip-rounded 'e' in the 'em' portion, and end with a clear 'lee' /li/. Visualize the lips opening slightly, tongue high for /ɛm/, then glide into /li/. Audio cues: emphasize the /prɛm/ cluster and keep the final /li/ light and long enough to hear the L. “Supremely” is two syllables in connected speech but clearly three phonetic segments: sə-PRĔM-lee.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (putting emphasis on the first syllable) and mispronouncing the middle vowel as a pure /æ/ or a lax /ɛ/. Another issue is softening the final /li/ to /lɪ/ without a clear 'ee' color; keep the final /li/ distinct. Correct by practicing the strong second-syllable vowel /ɛm/ with a crisp /l/ onset and a prolonged final /i/. Use minimal pairs like /səˈprɛm.li/ vs /səˈprɛm.li/ (same) but ensure the real intent matches the contrast in surrounding words. Practice with slow articulation, then speed up while preserving the second-syllable emphasis and final vowel clarity.
In US, UK, and AU accents, the primary stress remains on the second syllable /ˈprɛm/. The vowel quality in /ɛm/ can be slightly more open in US English and somewhat closer to /ɛ/ in UK and AU. The final /li/ tends to be a clear [li] in most speakers, but Australian speakers may exhibit a more centralized vowel in the final syllable and slightly flatter intonation. Rhoticity is not a factor here; all three varieties preserve the rhotic-less /ə/ at the start. In fast speech, the initial schwa may reduce, but the strong middle syllable and final /li/ stay audible.
The difficulty lies in the strong stress on the second syllable and the smooth transition from the /ə/ to /ˈprɛm/ cluster, which requires precise tongue placement for /p/ and /r/ together, followed by a crisp /ɛm/ vowel and a tidy /li/ ending. The /ə/ initial sound is weak and easily swallowed, especially in rapid speech. Additionally, the final /li/ requires a crisp, separate /l/ and a long /i/ without trailing off. Practicing slow, deliberate enunciations with gradual speed increases helps solidify the exact tongue positions and timing.
No letters are truly silent in standard pronunciation, but learners often mispronounce the /ˈprɛm/ portion or fail to clearly vocalize the second syllable’s vowel. The digraphs are straightforward: the combination 'sup' yields /sə/, and 'remely' yields /ˈprɛm.li/. The tricky part is maintaining the full vowel and consonant sequence in the middle and ending with a crisp /li/. Hearing and mimicking a native speaker’s rhythm helps you avoid swallowing the middle or slurring the final syllable.
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Supremely originates from the Latin supremeus, meaning ‘highest, topmost,’ which itself derives from super- ‘above’ + -imus, a superlative suffix. The Latin supremeus evolved through Old French supreme and Middle English, retaining the sense of being at the peak or utmost degree. The modern English usage solidified in the 16th–18th centuries as an adverbial or adjectival intensifier, often describing qualities that stand above all others. Over time, the form shortened in ordinary speech to supremely, with the primary stress shifting to the second syllable under common English metrical patterns. The word’s semantic trajectory emphasizes extremity and preeminence, frequently in evaluative or evaluative-judgment contexts, and it remains a common choice in formal, rhetorical, and literary registers." ,
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "supremely" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "supremely" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "supremely"
-ply sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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