How to pronounce brotherly
Say it like BRUHTH-er-lee. Brotherly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRUHTH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce brotherly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BRUHTH
- er
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Brotherly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BRUHTHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of brotherly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BRUHTH-uh-lee.
What does brotherly mean?
- Of or characteristic of brothers.“brotherly love”
- In the manner of a brother, as a brother, as brothers.
Where does brotherly come from?
From Middle English brotherly, from Old English brōþorlīċ, from Proto-West Germanic *brōþerlīk, from Proto-Germanic *brōþērlīkaz, equivalent to brother + -ly (adjectival suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with brotherly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of brotherly.
Questions about saying brotherly
How do you pronounce brotherly?
Say BRUHTH-er-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbrʌðɚli/. In British English it is /ˈbrʌðəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in brotherly?
Brotherly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRUHTH). Broken into parts: BRUHTH · er · lee.
Is brotherly pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbrʌðəli/ (BRUHTH-uh-lee).