How to pronounce soberly
Say it like SOH-ber-lee. Soberly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce soberly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOH
- ber
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Soberly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- berKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of soberly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SOH-buh-lee.
What does soberly mean?
- In a sober manner; temperately; coolly; calmly; gravely; seriously.
Where does soberly come from?
From Middle English soberly; equivalent to sober + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying soberly
How do you pronounce soberly?
Say SOH-ber-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsoʊbɚli/. In British English it is /ˈsəʊbəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in soberly?
Soberly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOH). Broken into parts: SOH · ber · lee.
Is soberly 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 /ˈsəʊbəli/ (SOH-buh-lee).