How to pronounce lonely
Say it like LOHN-lee. Lonely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lonely. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOHN
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lonely pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOHNSay 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 lonely
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: LOHN-lee.
What does lonely mean?
- lacking companions or companionship“he was alone when we met him”“she is alone much of the time”
- marked by dejection from being alone“felt sad and lonely”“the loneliest night of the week”
- characterized by or preferring solitude“a lone wolf”“a lonely existence”
Where does lonely come from?
From lone + -ly, or from an apheretic shortening of alonely.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with lonely
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lonely.
Questions about saying lonely
How do you pronounce lonely?
Say LOHN-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈloʊnli/. In British English it is /ˈləʊnli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lonely?
Lonely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOHN). Broken into parts: LOHN · lee.
Is lonely 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 /ˈləʊnli/ (LOHN-lee).