How to pronounce somberly
Say it like SOM-ber-lee. Somberly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce somberly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOM
- ber
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Somberly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SOMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- 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 somberly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: SOM-buh-lee.
What does somberly mean?
- In a somber manner.
Where does somberly come from?
From somber + -ly.
Questions about saying somberly
How do you pronounce somberly?
Say SOM-ber-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɑmbɚli/. In British English it is /ˈsɒmbəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in somberly?
Somberly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOM). Broken into parts: SOM · ber · lee.
Is somberly 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 /ˈsɒmbəli/ (SOM-buh-lee).