How to pronounce lovely
Say it like LUHV-lee. Lovely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LUHV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lovely. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LUHV
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lovely pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LUHVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of lovely
American and British speakers say lovely in essentially the same way: /ˈlʌvli/ in the US and /ˈlʌvli/ in the UK.
British respelling: LUHV-lee.
What does lovely mean?
- appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
- lovable especially in a childlike or naive way
- a very pretty girl who works as a photographer's model
Where does lovely come from?
From Middle English lovely, luvelich, lufli, from Old English luflīċ, luflīc (“amiable, loving, lovable”), equivalent to love + -ly.
Questions about saying lovely
How do you pronounce lovely?
Say LUHV-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈlʌvli/. In British English it is /ˈlʌvli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lovely?
Lovely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LUHV). Broken into parts: LUHV · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say lovely the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlʌvli/ and the British form is /ˈlʌvli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.