How to pronounce scarcely
Say it like SKAIR-slee. Scarcely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKAIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce scarcely. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKAIR
- slee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Scarcely pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKAIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- sleeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of scarcely
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SKAIR-slee.
What does scarcely mean?
- Probably not.“One could scarcely find any trout in the stream without the stocking program.”
- Certainly not, hardly at all.“One could scarcely expect the man to know how to fly a helicopter.”
- Hardly: only just; by a small margin.“Scarcely had she arrived when she was put to work.”
Where does scarcely come from?
From Middle English scarcely, scarsly, scarsely, scarsliche, scarseliche, equivalent to scarce + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying scarcely
How do you pronounce scarcely?
Say SKAIR-slee. The American pronunciation is /ˈskɛrsli/. In British English it is /ˈskɛəsli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in scarcely?
Scarcely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKAIR). Broken into parts: SKAIR · slee.
Is scarcely 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 /ˈskɛəsli/ (SKAIR-slee).