How to pronounce deadly
Say it like DED-lee. Deadly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce deadly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DED
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Deadly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of deadly
American and British speakers say deadly in essentially the same way: /ˈdɛdli/ in the US and /ˈdɛdli/ in the UK.
British respelling: DED-lee.
What does deadly mean?
- causing or capable of causing death“a fatal accident”“a deadly enemy”
- of an instrument of certain death“deadly poisons”“lethal weapon”
- extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom“venomous snakes”“a virulent insect bite”
- as if dead
- (used as intensives) extremely“she was madly in love”“deadly dull”
Where does deadly come from?
The adverb is from Middle English dedliche, from Old English dēadlīċe (adverb), from the adjective.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with deadly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of deadly.
Questions about saying deadly
How do you pronounce deadly?
Say DED-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɛdli/. In British English it is /ˈdɛdli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in deadly?
Deadly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DED). Broken into parts: DED · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say deadly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɛdli/ and the British form is /ˈdɛdli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.