3 syllables: ve, ri, ly. Stress on ve.
VER-uh-li
/ˈvɛrəlɪ/
verily is pronounced VER-uh-li (/ˈvɛrəlɪ/). It has three syllables (ve-ri-ly), with the stress on "ve". Verily means in truth or certainly, used to emphasize the truth of a statement. It is a formal, somewhat archaic adverb often found in religious or literary contexts. The word carries a ceremonious tone and is less common in everyday modern speech, but it remains recognizable and comprehensible in Shakespearean or King James-era texts and retellings, where emphasis and solemnity are appropriate.
Verily means in truth or certainly, used to emphasize the truth of a statement. It is a formal, somewhat archaic adverb often found in religious or literary contexts. The word carries a ceremonious tone and is less common in everyday modern speech, but it remains recognizable and comprehensible in Shakespearean or King James-era texts and retellings, where emphasis and solemnity are appropriate.
"Verily, I say unto you, that all shall be well in the end."
"She verily believed the tale, for the evidence seemed compelling."
"The verdict, verily, spoke to the crowd's relief and astonishment."
Verily is pronounced /ˈvɛr.ɪ.li/ in US and UK English. The primary stress falls on the first syllable, with a clear, short 'e' as in 'bet' for the first vowel. The middle syllable uses a reduced, unstressed 'i' sound, and the final 'ly' forms a light, brief 'lee' sound. Mouth positioning: lips neutral to light spread, tongue high-mid for the first vowel, then a relaxed tongue for the second and final syllables. Audio references: you can check Cambridge and Oxford dictionaries or Forvo pronunciations to hear the precise cadence.
Common errors include over-pronouncing the middle syllable so it sounds like 'ver-ih-lee' with an overstage, or flattening the word to a single syllable. Another frequent issue is clipping the final 'ly' so it sounds like 'ver-ill' instead of a light 'lee' sound. Correct these by maintaining a distinct second syllable with a short 'i' and ensuring the final 'ly' has a brief, soft 'lee' sound. Practice saying VER-i-ly slowly, then speed up while keeping the final syllable light and short.
Across accents, the primary stress remains on the first syllable in US, UK, and AU, but vowel qualities shift: US tends to have a clearer /ˈvɛr.ɪ.li/ with a lax 'er' and a shorter 'i', UK often retains a more rounded 'er' and a slightly higher 'i' sound, and AU tends toward a flatter mid openness with a slightly reduced 'er' vowel and a more clipped final 'ly'. The rhoticity difference in US vs non-rhotic accents can subtly affect perceived vowel lengths, though all maintain a strong first-syllable emphasis.
The difficulty lies in maintaining a clean, unstressed second syllable while preserving the crisp, light final 'ly' without turning the word into two or three quick, flattened syllables. The short, lax middle vowel requires precise tongue position and relaxed jaw. Additionally, the archaic cadence can tempt you to exaggerate the first syllable; resist that by balancing intensity so the phrase remains formal yet natural in fluent speech.
Is the final 'ly' always light and reduced in modern speech, or can it be stretched for emphasis in rhetorical contexts? In standard careful speech, the final 'ly' is a light, quick sound (/li/ with a short 'i'), not a full 'lee' with extra duration. In Shakespearean or scriptural readings, performers may slightly lengthen the final syllable for emphasis, but it should still avoid becoming a full vowel extension that disrupts the word's cadence.
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Verily originates from Middle English, combining the adverbial particle 'veri-' with the suffix '-ly' to form a nearly archaic intensifier meaning ‘truly, indeed’. Its semantic core lies in asserting truth, certainty, or assurance. The term derives from Old French verite or Latin veritas through the influence of religious and scholastic language in medieval and early modern English. The earliest known uses appear in translations and paraphrases of biblical and theological texts, where speakers sought solemn, definitive assertion. Over time, verily became a staple of elevated diction in religious, legal, and poetic prose, gradually declining in everyday conversation but surviving in literary and ceremonial contexts. In Shakespearean English and King James Bible-era writing, verily functioned as a formal adverb that could frame statements with weighty moral or factual certainty. Modern usage leans toward archaic or stylistic emphasis, often quoted for rhetorical effect or historical ambience. The term’s decline in frequency mirrors broader linguistic shifts toward conversational brevity, yet it remains recognizable in quoted lines, sermons, and period dramas, preserving its characteristic solemn cadence.
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Words that rhyme with "verily"
-ely sounds
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