uhn-LEYE-klee
/əˈnlaɪkli/
unlikely is pronounced uhn-LEYE-klee (/əˈnlaɪkli/). Unlikely describes something that has little chance of happening or being true. It signals low probability, often surprising or unexpected given current information. In use, it positions a claim as speculative rather than certain, yet still recognizably tied to the evidence at hand.
Unlikely describes something that has little chance of happening or being true. It signals low probability, often surprising or unexpected given current information. In use, it positions a claim as speculative rather than certain, yet still recognizably tied to the evidence at hand.
"It’s unlikely that we’ll finish the project on time, given the current delays."
"The jury found it unlikely that the defendant acted alone."
"When she lost her map, it seemed unlikely she’d reach the village before dark."
Pronounce it as un-LYK-lee, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: ʌnˈlaɪkli. Start with the
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (UHN-lihk-lee) or slurring the -k- into the -l- resulting in a muddy pronunciation. Also, some learners mispronounce the vowel as a long /iː/ or confuse -ly with -ly as in 'lovely.' Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable, keep the /laɪ/ as a single diphthong, and pronounce /k/ clearly before /li/. The final /i/ should be a light, unstressed /i/ rather than a full vowel. Practice with isolated syllables and then whole-word drills to stabilize the rhythm.
In US/UK/AU, the core vowel quality of /ʌ/ in the first syllable remains similar. Differences arise in the final /li/: UK often exhibits clearer /l/ and less rhoticity variation, while US tends to a more pronounced rhotic influence in surrounding context; AU tends to a flatter, slightly fronted /ɪ/ or /iː/ depending on speaker and vowel shift; the /laɪ/ diphthong often remains a bright /aɪ/ in most accents. The primary stress on /laɪ/ is consistent, but vowel coloring and fast linking into following consonants can shift subtly across regional speech.
The challenge lies in the diphthong /aɪ/ in the nucleus of the second syllable and the need to move from the /l/ into a soft /k/ before /li/. Many learners flatten the /laɪ/ into a monophthong or misplace the stress, producing UHN-lik-lee or un-LIKE-lee. Focus on a clean transition: begin with a light onset on /l/, glide into /aɪ/ without breaking the tongue, then release a crisp /k/ before the final /l/ and /i/. Keeping mouth positions steady reduces a clipped final /i/ sound.
Is there a silent element in 'unlikely' to watch for? Answer: No, the word 'unlikely' has fully articulated sounds without silent letters. The common pitfall is not the presence of silent letters but mis-timing the secondary syllable’s stress and slurring the /laɪ/ sequence. Ensure that the first syllable is unstressed and the second syllable carries primary stress; the final -ly is pronounced with a light, quick /li/ that doesn’t detach from the preceding /k/.
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Unlikely comes from late Middle English un- (a negation) + likely, from Old Norse-lik-likr meaning 'having the appearance' or 'suitable, probable.' The prefix un- signals negation, turning probable into the opposite. Likely originates from Old English lician (to please, befit) through Proto-Germanic *gelikjaną, with senses tied to being fitting or probable. By the 14th–15th centuries, likely took on the sense of “having a good chance,” while unlikely evolved to mean “not likely” or “having little probability.” The word’s semantic shift aligns with broader English usage where negation of probability becomes shorthand for improbability. In modern usage, unlikely is routinely paired with modal verbs (might, could, would) and conditional clauses, reinforcing a judgment about probability rather than certainty. First known use in written English appears in the 1590s, evolving through Shakespearean and early modern English with similar forms like unlikely-ish and unlikelyness as adjectives describing events, outcomes, or claims that do not align with expectations or evidence.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "unlikely" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "unlikely"
-nky sounds
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