How to pronounce lawfully
Say it like LAW-fuh-lee. Lawfully has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lawfully. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAW
- fuh
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lawfully pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- fuhKeep 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 lawfully
American and British speakers say lawfully in essentially the same way: /ˈlɔfəli/ in the US and /ˈlɒfəli/ in the UK.
British respelling: LOF-uh-lee.
What does lawfully mean?
- Conforming to the law; legally.
Where does lawfully come from?
From Middle English lawefully, lawfulliche, lawefulliche; equivalent to lawful + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying lawfully
How do you pronounce lawfully?
Say LAW-fuh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɔfəli/. In British English it is /ˈlɒfəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lawfully?
Lawfully has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAW). Broken into parts: LAW · fuh · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say lawfully the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɔfəli/ and the British form is /ˈlɒfəli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.