How to pronounce gently
Say it like JENT-lee. Gently has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JENT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce gently. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JENT
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Gently pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JENTSay 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 gently
American and British speakers say gently in essentially the same way: /ˈdʒɛntli/ in the US and /ˈdʒɛntli/ in the UK.
British respelling: JENT-lee.
What does gently mean?
- in a gradual manner“a gently sloping terrain”
- in a gentle manner“he talked gently to the injured animal”
- with little weight or force“she kissed him lightly on the forehead”
Where does gently come from?
From Middle English gentilly, gentlych, gentilliche, equivalent to gentle + -ly, with *-lely simplified to -ly by haplology.
Words that rhyme with gently
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of gently.
Questions about saying gently
How do you pronounce gently?
Say JENT-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʒɛntli/. In British English it is /ˈdʒɛntli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in gently?
Gently has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JENT). Broken into parts: JENT · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say gently the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdʒɛntli/ and the British form is /ˈdʒɛntli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.