How to pronounce surely
Say it like SHOOR-lee. Surely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHOOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce surely. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHOOR
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Surely pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHOORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of surely
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SHAW-lee.
What does surely mean?
- definitely or positively (sure is sometimes used informally for surely)“the results are surely encouraging”“she certainly is a hard worker”
Where does surely come from?
From Middle English surely; equivalent to sure + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with surely
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of surely.
Questions about saying surely
How do you pronounce surely?
Say SHOOR-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃʊrli/. In British English it is /ˈʃɔːli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in surely?
Surely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHOOR). Broken into parts: SHOOR · lee.
Is surely 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 /ˈʃɔːli/ (SHAW-lee).