THURD-lee
/ˈθɝdli/
thirdly is pronounced THURD-lee (/ˈθɝdli/). Thirdly is a formal adverb meaning ‘in the third place’ or ‘next after the second point,’ used to introduce the third item in a list or sequence. It is typically used in structured argumentation or formal writing, and often appears after firstly and secondly. The pronunciation emphasizes the stress on the first syllable of the stem and maintains a clear /ˈθɜːd.li/ (RP) or /ˈθɝːd.li/ (General American) with a light, syllabic -ly ending.
Thirdly is a formal adverb meaning ‘in the third place’ or ‘next after the second point,’ used to introduce the third item in a list or sequence. It is typically used in structured argumentation or formal writing, and often appears after firstly and secondly. The pronunciation emphasizes the stress on the first syllable of the stem and maintains a clear /ˈθɜːd.li/ (RP) or /ˈθɝːd.li/ (General American) with a light, syllabic -ly ending.
"First, we gathered data; second, we evaluated the results; thirdly, we proposed a plan of action."
"The committee established three criteria, thirdly addressing long-term sustainability."
"We must consider cost, time, and thirdly, risk to participants when designing the study."
Pronounce as /ˈθɜːd.li/ in UK English and /ˈθɝːd.li/ in US English. The first syllable stress is on 'third' with a long middle vowel, followed by a light -ly ending. Lip position is relaxed, top teeth gently press the bottom lip for the θ sound, then the /ɜː/ or /ɝː/ vowel, then a clear /d/ followed by a light /l/ and final /i/ vowel.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress (e.g., stressing the second syllable), replacing the initial /θ/ with /f/ or /s/, or dropping the -ly, producing 'thirdy' or 'third-lee' with an off glide. Corrections: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈθɜːd/; articulate the initial voiceless interdental fricative /θ/ with the tongue between teeth; end with a clean /li/ by avoiding an extra vowel between /d/ and /l/; keep the /l/ light and the final /i/ as a short, unstressed vowel.
Across accents, the main differences lie in the nucleus vowel and rhoticity. US: /ˈθɝd.li/ with rhotic r influencing the vowel quality of /ɝ/. UK: /ˈθɜːd.li/ with a longer /ɜː/ and non-rhotic R, less r-coloring. Australia: often /ˈθɜːd.li/ or /ˈθɝd.li/ with variable rhoticity depending on speaker; vowels can be somewhat higher or centered due to Australian vowel shift. The final -ly remains /-li/ in all.
The difficulty stems from the initial interdental fricative /θ/ which many speakers substitute with /f/ or /t/; the mid-vowel in stressed syllable /ɜː/ or /ɝː/ can be challenging depending on your accent; and the /d/ + /l/ cluster followed by a weak /i/ requires quick but clear articulation to avoid a fused or indistinct ending. Practice the sequence /θ/ + /ɜː/ + /d/ + /li/ with controlled timing to keep the six-letter word crisp.
A unique nuance is ensuring the /d/ is not released too heavily into the /l/; keep the tongue tip behind the upper teeth for /d/ and lightly touch the alveolar ridge, then transition smoothly to the /l/ with a light, almost syllabic /l/. This prevents the /d/ from causing a laryngeal-like break before the /li/ ending and helps maintain the formal, crisp cadence expected in disciplined prose.
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Thirdly derives from the ordinal adverb third + the -ly suffix to form an adverb. The root third originates from Old English thridda, related to the Romance-derived third through Latin tertius via French tiers. The -ly suffix, used to form adverbs from adjectives, attaches to third to indicate the manner or sequence, producing third + ly = thirdly. The word appears in English texts by the late Middle Ages as a more formal or rhetorical adverb to delineate order within lists or arguments. Its usage became common in academic, legal, and formal discourse where enumerated points are presented with precise sequencing: first, second, third, etc. Over time, thirdly has retained its formal tone, contrasting with more colloquial alternatives like in the third place or next. In contemporary usage, it remains a staple in structured expository writing and public speaking, though many speakers use it sparingly for fluidity and prefer shorter transitions in casual contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "thirdly"
-ily sounds
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