How to pronounce smoothly
Say it like SMOOTH-lee. Smoothly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SMOOTH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce smoothly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SMOOTH
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Smoothly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SMOOTHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of smoothly
American and British speakers say smoothly in essentially the same way: /ˈsmuðli/ in the US and /ˈsmuːðli/ in the UK.
British respelling: SMOOTH-lee.
What does smoothly mean?
- with no problems or difficulties“put the plans into effect quickly and smoothly”“despite of some mishaps, everything went swimmingly”
- in a smooth and diplomatic manner“`And now,' he said smoothly, `we will continue the conversation'”
Where does smoothly come from?
From Middle English smoþely; equivalent to smooth + -ly.
Questions about saying smoothly
How do you pronounce smoothly?
Say SMOOTH-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsmuðli/. In British English it is /ˈsmuːðli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in smoothly?
Smoothly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SMOOTH). Broken into parts: SMOOTH · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say smoothly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsmuðli/ and the British form is /ˈsmuːðli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.