How to pronounce manly
Say it like MAN-lee. Manly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce manly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAN
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Manly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of manly
American and British speakers say manly in essentially the same way: /ˈmænli/ in the US and /ˈmænli/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAN-lee.
What does manly mean?
- possessing qualities befitting a man
- characteristic of a man“a deep male voice”“manly sports”
- in a manful manner; with qualities thought to befit a man“having said her say Peggy manfully shouldered her burden and prepared to break up yet another home”
Where does manly come from?
Cognate with Old High German manlīh (“manly”) (whence German männlich), Dutch mannelijk, Old Norse mannligr (“human”) (Danish mandlig, Swedish manlig).
Questions about saying manly
How do you pronounce manly?
Say MAN-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈmænli/. In British English it is /ˈmænli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in manly?
Manly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAN). Broken into parts: MAN · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say manly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmænli/ and the British form is /ˈmænli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.