How to pronounce miserly
Say it like MY-zer-lee. Miserly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce miserly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MY
- zer
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Miserly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- zerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of miserly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MY-zuh-lee.
What does miserly mean?
- Like a miser, very or objectionably cautious with money.“miserly habits”
Where does miserly come from?
From miser + -ly, attested from the 1540s.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying miserly
How do you pronounce miserly?
Say MY-zer-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈmaɪzərli/. In British English it is /ˈmaɪzəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in miserly?
Miserly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MY). Broken into parts: MY · zer · lee.
Is miserly pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈmaɪzəli/ (MY-zuh-lee).