How to pronounce early
Say it like UR-lee. Early has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce early. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- UR
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Early pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- URSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of early
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: UR-lee.
What does early mean?
- at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time“early morning”“an early warning”
- being or occurring at an early stage of development“in an early stage”“early forms of life”
- belonging to the distant past“the early inhabitants of Europe”“former generations”
- during an early stage“early on in her career”
- before the usual time or the time expected“she graduated early”“the house was completed ahead of time”
- in good time“he awoke betimes that morning”
Where does early come from?
From Middle English erly, erlich, earlich, from Old English ǣrlīċ (“early”, adjective), equivalent to ere + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with early
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of early.
Questions about saying early
How do you pronounce early?
Say UR-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈɝli/. In British English it is /ˈɜːli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in early?
Early has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UR). Broken into parts: UR · lee.
Is early 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 /ˈɜːli/ (UR-lee).