How to pronounce boldly
Say it like BOHLD-lee. Boldly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOHLD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce boldly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOHLD
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Boldly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOHLDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of boldly
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BOHLD-lee.
What does boldly mean?
- In a bold manner; with confidence.“to boldly go where no man has gone before”
Where does boldly come from?
From Middle English boldely, boldeliche, baldeliche, from Old English bealdlīċe (“boldly, earnestly”), equivalent to bold + -ly.
Words that rhyme with boldly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of boldly.
Questions about saying boldly
How do you pronounce boldly?
Say BOHLD-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈboʊldli/. In British English it is /ˈbəʊldli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in boldly?
Boldly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOHLD). Broken into parts: BOHLD · lee.
Is boldly pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈbəʊldli/ (BOHLD-lee).