How to pronounce costly
Say it like KOST-lee. Costly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOST).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce costly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOST
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Costly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOSTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of costly
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOST-lee.
Other ways to say costly
Costly also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- KAWST-lee /ˈkɔstli/
What does costly mean?
- entailing great loss or sacrifice“a dearly-won victory”
- having a high price“costly jewelry”“high-priced merchandise”
Where does costly come from?
From Middle English costly, costely, costeley, equivalent to cost + -ly.
Questions about saying costly
How do you pronounce costly?
Say KOST-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑstli/. In British English it is /ˈkɒstli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in costly?
Costly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOST). Broken into parts: KOST · lee.
Is costly pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈkɒstli/ (KOST-lee).