How to pronounce northerly
Say it like NOR-ther-lee. Northerly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce northerly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NOR
- ther
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Northerly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- therKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of northerly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: NAW-thuh-lee.
What does northerly mean?
- Facing the north; directed towards the north.“a northerly voyage”
- Located in a northern region.
- Coming from the north.“a northerly wind”
- A northerly wind (that is, a northern wind, which blows from the north or northerly).
- In an northward direction or position; (towards the) north.
- From the north.
Where does northerly come from?
From norther + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying northerly
How do you pronounce northerly?
Say NOR-ther-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈnɔrðɚli/. In British English it is /ˈnɔːðəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in northerly?
Northerly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NOR). Broken into parts: NOR · ther · lee.
Is northerly 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 /ˈnɔːðəli/ (NAW-thuh-lee).