How to pronounce slowly
Say it like SLOH-lee. Slowly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SLOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce slowly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SLOH
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Slowly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SLOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of slowly
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SLOH-lee.
What does slowly mean?
- without speed (slow is sometimes used informally for slowly)“he spoke slowly”“go easy here--the road is slippery”
- in music“Play this lento, please”
Where does slowly come from?
From Middle English slowly, slowli, slouli, slowliche, from Old English slāwlīċe (“slowly; sluggishly”), equivalent to slow + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with slowly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of slowly.
Questions about saying slowly
How do you pronounce slowly?
Say SLOH-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsloʊli/. In British English it is /ˈsləʊli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in slowly?
Slowly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SLOH). Broken into parts: SLOH · lee.
Is slowly pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈsləʊli/ (SLOH-lee).