How to pronounce quietly
Say it like KWY-ut-lee. Quietly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KWY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce quietly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KWY
- ut
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Quietly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KWYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- utKeep 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 quietly
American and British speakers say quietly in essentially the same way: /ˈkwaɪətli/ in the US and /ˈkwaɪətli/ in the UK.
British respelling: KWY-ut-lee.
What does quietly mean?
- with low volume“speak softly but carry a big stick”“she spoke quietly to the child”
- with little or no sound“the class was listening quietly and intently”“she was crying quietly”
- with little or no activity or no agitation (quiet is a nonstandard variant for quietly)“her hands rested quietly in her lap”“the rock star was quietly led out the back door”
Where does quietly come from?
From Middle English quietely, quyetly, equivalent to quiet + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying quietly
How do you pronounce quietly?
Say KWY-ut-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkwaɪətli/. In British English it is /ˈkwaɪətli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in quietly?
Quietly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KWY). Broken into parts: KWY · ut · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say quietly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkwaɪətli/ and the British form is /ˈkwaɪətli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.