How to pronounce personally
Say it like PUR-suh-nuh-lee. Personally has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce personally. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PUR
- suh
- nuh
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Personally pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nuhKeep 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 personally
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PUR-suh-nuh-lee.
What does personally mean?
- as yourself“speaking personally, I would not want to go”
- as a person“he is personally repulsive”
- in a personal way“he took her comments personally”
Where does personally come from?
From Middle English personally, personely, personallich, personaliche, equivalent to personal + -ly.
Questions about saying personally
How do you pronounce personally?
Say PUR-suh-nuh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɝsənəli/. In British English it is /ˈpɜːsənəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in personally?
Personally has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUR). Broken into parts: PUR · suh · nuh · lee.
Is personally 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 /ˈpɜːsənəli/ (PUR-suh-nuh-lee).