How to pronounce burly
Say it like BUR-lee. Burly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce burly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BUR
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Burly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of burly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BUR-lee.
What does burly mean?
- Large, well-built, and muscular.“He’s a big, burly rugby player who works as a landscape gardener.”
- Great, amazing, unbelievable.“That goal was burly.”
- Of large magnitude, either good or bad, and sometimes both.“That wave was burly! (i.e. large, dangerous and difficult to ride)”
- Full of burls or knots; knotty.
Where does burly come from?
From Middle English burly, burely, borly, burlich, borlich, borlic (“tall, stately”), of uncertain origin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with burly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of burly.
Questions about saying burly
How do you pronounce burly?
Say BUR-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɝli/. In British English it is /ˈbɜːli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in burly?
Burly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUR). Broken into parts: BUR · lee.
Is burly 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 /ˈbɜːli/ (BUR-lee).