How to pronounce sharply
Say it like SHAR-plee. Sharply has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sharply. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHAR
- plee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sharply pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- pleeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of sharply
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SHAH-plee.
What does sharply mean?
- in an aggressive manner“she was being sharply questioned”
- in a well delineated manner“the new style of Minoan pottery was sharply defined”
- changing suddenly in direction and degree“the road twists sharply after the light”“turn sharp left here”
Where does sharply come from?
From Middle English sharply, scharply, from Old English sċearplīċe (“sharply, smartly”), equivalent to sharp + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying sharply
How do you pronounce sharply?
Say SHAR-plee. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃɑrpli/. In British English it is /ˈʃɑːpli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sharply?
Sharply has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHAR). Broken into parts: SHAR · plee.
Is sharply 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 /ˈʃɑːpli/ (SHAH-plee).