How to pronounce homely
Say it like HOHM-lee. Homely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOHM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce homely. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOHM
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Homely pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HOHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of homely
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: HOHM-lee.
What does homely mean?
- Characteristic of, belonging to, or befitting a home; domestic, cosy.
- Lacking in beauty or elegance, plain in appearance, physically unattractive.
- Conservative and family-oriented.“I am seeking a beautiful homely girl for marriage.”
Where does homely come from?
From Middle English homly, hoomly, hamely (“domestic, familiar, plain, unattractive”), from Old English *hāmlīċ (“of the home, domestic”), from Proto-West Germanic *haimalīk (“of or characteristic of home”), equivalent to home + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying homely
How do you pronounce homely?
Say HOHM-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈhoʊmli/. In British English it is /ˈhəʊmli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in homely?
Homely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOHM). Broken into parts: HOHM · lee.
Is homely pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈhəʊmli/ (HOHM-lee).