How to pronounce lightly
Say it like LYTE-lee. Lightly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LYTE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lightly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LYTE
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lightly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LYTESay 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 lightly
American and British speakers say lightly in essentially the same way: /ˈlaɪtli/ in the US and /ˈlaɪtli/ in the UK.
British respelling: LYTE-lee.
What does lightly mean?
- without good reason“one cannot say such things lightly”
- with few burdens“experienced travellers travel light”
- with little weight or force“she kissed him lightly on the forehead”
Where does lightly come from?
From Middle English lyghtly, liȝtliche, lihtliche, from Old English lēohtlīċe, equivalent to light + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with lightly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lightly.
Questions about saying lightly
How do you pronounce lightly?
Say LYTE-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈlaɪtli/. In British English it is /ˈlaɪtli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lightly?
Lightly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LYTE). Broken into parts: LYTE · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say lightly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlaɪtli/ and the British form is /ˈlaɪtli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.