How to pronounce highly
Say it like HY-lee. Highly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce highly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HY
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Highly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of highly
American and British speakers say highly in essentially the same way: /ˈhaɪli/ in the US and /ˈhaɪli/ in the UK.
British respelling: HY-lee.
What does highly mean?
- to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect“highly successful”“He spoke highly of her”
- at a high rate or wage“highly paid workers”
- in a high position or level or rank“details known by only a few highly placed persons”
Where does highly come from?
From Middle English hiȝly, heȝly, heyȝliche, from Old English hēalīce (“highly”), equivalent to high + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with highly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of highly.
Questions about saying highly
How do you pronounce highly?
Say HY-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈhaɪli/. In British English it is /ˈhaɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in highly?
Highly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HY). Broken into parts: HY · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say highly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhaɪli/ and the British form is /ˈhaɪli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.