How to pronounce finally
Say it like FY-nuh-lee. Finally has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce finally. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FY
- nuh
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Finally pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- nuhKeep 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 finally
American and British speakers say finally in essentially the same way: /ˈfaɪnəli/ in the US and /ˈfaɪnəli/ in the UK.
British respelling: FY-nuh-lee.
What does finally mean?
- after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
- as the end result of a succession or process“ultimately he had to give in”“at long last the winter was over”
- the item at the end“last, I'll discuss family values”
Where does finally come from?
From Middle English finally, fynaly, fynally, fynaliche, fynalliche, equivalent to final + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying finally
How do you pronounce finally?
Say FY-nuh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈfaɪnəli/. In British English it is /ˈfaɪnəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in finally?
Finally has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FY). Broken into parts: FY · nuh · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say finally the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfaɪnəli/ and the British form is /ˈfaɪnəli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.