WAWRM-lee
/ˈwɔɹmli/
warmly is pronounced WAWRM-lee (/ˈwɔɹmli/). Warmly describes acting with friendliness, kindness, and genuine warmth in manner or expression. It conveys a sincere, inviting attitude and is often used to describe speech or behavior that makes others feel welcomed. As an adverb, it modifies verbs or adjectives, highlighting the manner of the action or sentiment.
Warmly describes acting with friendliness, kindness, and genuine warmth in manner or expression. It conveys a sincere, inviting attitude and is often used to describe speech or behavior that makes others feel welcomed. As an adverb, it modifies verbs or adjectives, highlighting the manner of the action or sentiment.
"She greeted the guests warmly at the door."
"He spoke warmly about his childhood memories."
"The host thanked everyone warmly for their generosity."
Pronounce as /ˈwɔːr.mli/ in US and UK typically, with primary stress on the first syllable. The first syllable rhymes with 'warm' and features a back, rounded /ɔː/ vowel; the second syllable is a light, unstressed /mli/ cluster where the /l/ often merges with a light /i/ into a syllabic or near-syllabic sound. Practically: begin with a tense, rounded /ɔː/, then quickly move to the /r/ and finish with a clear /m/ followed by a short /l/ and a high-front vowel /i/. Audio reference: listen to native speech on Pronounce or Forvo for natural linking.
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing the primary stress on the second syllable, saying /ˈwɔːrli/ with wrong rhythm; (2) Deleting the /r/ or softening it into a vowel after /ɔː/, producing /ˈwɔːli/ or /ˈwɜːli/. Correction: keep the first syllable stressed: /ˈwɔːr/ with a distinct /r/, and clearly articulate the final /mli/ cluster: ensure you don’t reduce m+l into a simple /l/ or /i/—say /mli/ with a brief, crisp /l/ followed by /i/. Practice by repeating warm + ly separately then together, maintaining the first-stressed rhythm.
US and UK typically share /ˈwɔːr.mli/ with the first syllable containing /ɔː/ and the rhotic /r/ in rhotic accents. In many American varieties the /r/ is pronounced; in some non-rhotic UK accents it becomes /ˈwɔː.mli/ with a weaker or non-pronounced /r/. Australian English tends toward a non-rhotic or weakly rhotic system depending on speaker; the /ɔː/ vowel may be slightly centralised, and the final /li/ can be blended to /li/ with a shorter vowel, sometimes sounding closer to /ˈwɔːlmli/ with a quicker /l/ link.
The difficulty rests in the two-syllable rhythm and the consonant cluster at the end: /mli/. The /r/ in the first syllable, when followed by /m/, can create a challenging onset for non-native speakers, and the final /li/ requires precise tongue positioning to avoid a schwa or blended vowel. Also, maintaining stress on the first syllable while keeping the second syllable short requires controlled muscle tension and breath support, especially in rapid speech.
In rhotic dialects like General American and many US varieties, the /r/ is pronounced in the first syllable. In many non-rhotic British dialects, the /r/ is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel, so you may hear an almost /ˈwɔː.mli/ with a softer or non-existent /r/. In Australian English, rhoticity varies; many speakers do pronounce an /r/ in careful speech, but in casual guise it can be reduced.
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Warmly is formed from the adjective warm + the adverbial suffix -ly. The base word warm derives from Old English waerm “love, warmth, heat,” related to warmth in the sense of physical heat and affectionate feelings. Over time, warmth expanded metaphorically to describe kindness and friendliness. The adverbial suffix -ly emerged in Middle English to form adverbs from adjectives, producing adverbs that describe manner, degree, or frequency. The sense evolution of warmly parallels become, with usage attested in the late medieval period as a way to describe actions done in a warm or friendly manner. In modern English, warmly is commonly used across spoken and written registers to qualify verbs that denote greeting, speech, or conduct with a sense of warmth and sincerity. First known uses appear in 14th–15th century English texts, though precise earliest instances are scattered across literary and legal documents, reflecting the shift from literal temperature to figurative warmth in social interactions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "warmly" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "warmly" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "warmly"
-rmy sounds
-mly sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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