How to pronounce loosely
Say it like LOO-slee. Loosely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce loosely. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOO
- slee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Loosely pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- sleeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of loosely
American and British speakers say loosely in essentially the same way: /ˈlusli/ in the US and /ˈluːsli/ in the UK.
British respelling: LOO-slee.
What does loosely mean?
- in a relaxed manner; not rigid“his hands lay loosely”
- in a loose manner“a union of loosely federated states”
- without regard to specific details or exceptions“he interprets the law broadly”
Where does loosely come from?
From Middle English lously; equivalent to loose + -ly.
Words that rhyme with loosely
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of loosely.
Questions about saying loosely
How do you pronounce loosely?
Say LOO-slee. The American pronunciation is /ˈlusli/. In British English it is /ˈluːsli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in loosely?
Loosely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOO). Broken into parts: LOO · slee.
Do Americans and Brits say loosely the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlusli/ and the British form is /ˈluːsli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.