How to pronounce cruelly
Say it like KROO-lee. Cruelly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KROO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cruelly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KROO
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cruelly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KROOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of cruelly
American and British speakers say cruelly in essentially the same way: /ˈkruli/ in the US and /ˈkruːli/ in the UK.
British respelling: KROO-lee.
What does cruelly mean?
- In a cruel manner; with cruelty.
- To a degree that is cruel.
Where does cruelly come from?
From Middle English cruelly; equivalent to cruel + -ly.
Words that rhyme with cruelly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cruelly.
Questions about saying cruelly
How do you pronounce cruelly?
Say KROO-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkruli/. In British English it is /ˈkruːli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cruelly?
Cruelly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KROO). Broken into parts: KROO · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say cruelly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkruli/ and the British form is /ˈkruːli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.