How to pronounce civilly
Say it like SIV-ih-lee. Civilly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce civilly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIV
- ih
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Civilly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SIVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of civilly
American and British speakers say civilly in essentially the same way: /ˈsɪvɪli/ in the US and /ˈsɪvɪli/ in the UK.
British respelling: SIV-ih-lee.
What does civilly mean?
- In a civil manner; politely.
Where does civilly come from?
From Middle English cyvyly, equivalent to civil + -ly.
Questions about saying civilly
How do you pronounce civilly?
Say SIV-ih-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪvɪli/. In British English it is /ˈsɪvɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in civilly?
Civilly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIV). Broken into parts: SIV · ih · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say civilly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɪvɪli/ and the British form is /ˈsɪvɪli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.