How to pronounce reluctantly
Say it like rih-LUHK-tunt-lee. Reluctantly has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LUHK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce reluctantly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- LUHK
- tunt
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Reluctantly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- rihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- LUHKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- tuntKeep 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 reluctantly
American and British speakers say reluctantly in essentially the same way: /rɪˈlʌktəntli/ in the US and /rɪˈlʌktəntli/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-LUHK-tunt-lee.
What does reluctantly mean?
- In a reluctant or hesitant manner.
Where does reluctantly come from?
From reluctant + -ly.
Questions about saying reluctantly
How do you pronounce reluctantly?
Say rih-LUHK-tunt-lee. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈlʌktəntli/. In British English it is /rɪˈlʌktəntli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in reluctantly?
Reluctantly has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LUHK). Broken into parts: rih · LUHK · tunt · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say reluctantly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈlʌktəntli/ and the British form is /rɪˈlʌktəntli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.