How to pronounce cowardly
Say it like KOW-erd-lee. Cowardly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cowardly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOW
- erd
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cowardly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- erdKeep 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 cowardly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KOW-ud-lee.
What does cowardly mean?
- Showing cowardice; lacking in courage; weakly fearful.
Where does cowardly come from?
From Middle English *cowardly (adjective) and cowardly (adverb), equivalent to coward + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying cowardly
How do you pronounce cowardly?
Say KOW-erd-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkaʊɚdli/. In British English it is /ˈkaʊədli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cowardly?
Cowardly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOW). Broken into parts: KOW · erd · lee.
Is cowardly 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 /ˈkaʊədli/ (KOW-ud-lee).