UR-juhnt-lee
/ˈɝdʒəntli/
urgently is pronounced UR-juhnt-lee (/ˈɝdʒəntli/). Urgently describes a situation or action that requires immediate attention or action. It conveys a strong sense of urgency, often implying time is critical and delay could worsen outcomes. The word often modifies verbs or imperatives to signal pressing necessity.
Urgently describes a situation or action that requires immediate attention or action. It conveys a strong sense of urgency, often implying time is critical and delay could worsen outcomes. The word often modifies verbs or imperatives to signal pressing necessity.
"The fire alarm rang, and the supervisor called for help urgently."
"Hospitals must respond urgently to suspected infections."
"Please submit your application urgently; the deadline is today."
You say UR-jent-ly with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU broadly /ˈɜːrdʒəntli/ (in non-rhotic accents the r is not pronounced as strongly). Begin with an open-back unrounded vowel of /ɜː/ (like ‘bird’ without the r-ful r), then /dʒ/ as in “judge,” followed by /ə/ a schwa, then /n/ and final /li/ with a light, clipped ‘lee’. Mouth: start with a relaxed jaw, raise the tongue to the mid-palatal area for /dʒ/, then a quick neutral vowel, finish with a crisp /l/ and /i/. Audio reference: you’ll hear the emphasis on the first syllable in most native speech; practice with a slow-to-fast scale using IPA reminders.
Common errors include misplacing stress (shifting to second syllable), mispronouncing /ɜː/ as /ɪ/ or /ə/, and rendering /dʒ/ as a soft /ʒ/ or /tʃ/. Another frequent slip is running the /ˈɜːr/ into /ˈɜr.dʒənt/ without the clear /dʒ/ blend. Correct by isolating the /ɜː/ vowel, ensuring a sharp /dʒ/ (like 'judge'), and keeping a quick, light /ə/ before /n/. Finally, don’t drop the final -ly; say /li/ clearly to avoid ending with a muted consonant. Practice with minimal pairs and mouth-position checks.
In US accents you’ll likely hear a very clear /ɜːr/ with rhotic /r/ quality, producing /ˈɜːrdʒəntli/. UK often reduces the rhotic quality, giving /ˈɜːdʒəntli/ with less rhotic r, and Australian tends toward a broad /ˈɜːdʒəntli/ with subtle vowel length differences. The /dʒ/ blend remains strong in all; the key variation is the handling of /ɜːr/ vs /ɜː/ and how strongly the r is pronounced. Listen for rhoticity and vowel quality differences when comparing recordings from each region.
Two main challenges: the initial /ɜːr/ cluster requires a precise mid-back tongue position and a light, rolling /r/ (especially for non-rhotic speakers). The /dʒ/ blend must be tight and rapid, avoiding a separate /t/ sound. The ending /li/ requires a clean /l/ followed by a short, bright /i/. Misplacing the primary stress or dragging the syllables can dull the sense of urgency; keep the sequence tight and brisk.
As a long, common adverb, users often search for “how to say urgently” with emphasis on the initial syllable. A distinctive feature to highlight in SEO is the strong first syllable with /ɜː/ and the /dʒ/ blend that follows; include content on differentiating US/UK/AU rhoticity and provide explicit IPA variants. Use natural sample sentences and minimal pairs like ‘urgent’ vs ‘urgently’ to show the subtle vowel and consonant transitions.
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Urgently comes from the adverb urgently, formed by the adjective urgent plus the adverbial suffix -ly. Urgent itself derives from Middle English urgent, from Old French urgent, from Latin urgēns, urgēnt- (present participle of urgere, meaning to press, urge, drive forward). The root urg- conveys pressure or urging, and -ent marks ongoing action. The concept extends through Latin into many Romance languages with similar forms (urgere, to push or drive, and etymons such as urgentia in some Romance languages). First English attestations appear in the late medieval period, reflecting a shift from broader “pressing” or “demanding” to a sense of immediate necessity in communication. By Early Modern English, urgent(ly) had established its current sense of pressing necessity, often tied to emergency contexts or time-sensitive actions. Over centuries, the pragmatic usage coalesced around speed and immediacy: “urgently” is the adverbial form describing actions that must happen without delay. The word’s semantic core—forcing or compelling timely action—has remained stable, even as technological and social contexts increasingly emphasize rapid response and time-critical decision-making. In contemporary usage, “urgently” frequently appears in professional, medical, and crisis communications to convey priority and immediacy without sounding alarmist.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "urgently" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "urgently" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "urgently"
-tly sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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