How to pronounce smartly
Say it like SMART-lee. Smartly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SMART).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce smartly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SMART
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Smartly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SMARTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of smartly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SMAHT-lee.
What does smartly mean?
- With a fine or fashionable appearance.“smartly dressed”
- Quickly.
- Intelligently.
Where does smartly come from?
From Middle English smertly; equivalent to smart + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with smartly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of smartly.
Questions about saying smartly
How do you pronounce smartly?
Say SMART-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsmɑrtli/. In British English it is /ˈsmɑːtli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in smartly?
Smartly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SMART). Broken into parts: SMART · lee.
Is smartly 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 /ˈsmɑːtli/ (SMAHT-lee).