How to pronounce delicately
Say it like DEL-uh-kut-lee. Delicately has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce delicately. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DEL
- uh
- kut
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Delicately pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- kutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of delicately
American and British speakers say delicately in essentially the same way: /ˈdɛləkətli/ in the US and /ˈdɛləkətli/ in the UK.
British respelling: DEL-uh-kut-lee.
What does delicately mean?
- In a delicate manner; exquisitely.“The gingerbread was delicately, if imprecisely, captured by the brushstrokes.”
- Tactfully.“He approached the main subject delicately.”
Where does delicately come from?
From delicate + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying delicately
How do you pronounce delicately?
Say DEL-uh-kut-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɛləkətli/. In British English it is /ˈdɛləkətli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in delicately?
Delicately has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DEL). Broken into parts: DEL · uh · kut · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say delicately the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɛləkətli/ and the British form is /ˈdɛləkətli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.