How to pronounce soundly
Say it like SOWND-lih. Soundly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOWND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce soundly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOWND
- lih
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Soundly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SOWNDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- lihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of soundly
American and British speakers say soundly in essentially the same way: /ˈsaʊndlɪ/ in the US and /ˈsaʊndlɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SOWND-lih.
What does soundly mean?
- In a thorough manner; in manner free of defect or deficiency.“He was soundly thrashed by the semi-professional boxer.”
Where does soundly come from?
From Middle English soundly, soundely, from Old English ġesundlīċe (“safely, prosperously, gladly”), equivalent to sound + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying soundly
How do you pronounce soundly?
Say SOWND-lih. The American pronunciation is /ˈsaʊndlɪ/. In British English it is /ˈsaʊndlɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in soundly?
Soundly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOWND). Broken into parts: SOWND · lih.
Do Americans and Brits say soundly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsaʊndlɪ/ and the British form is /ˈsaʊndlɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.