How to pronounce surly
Say it like SUR-lee. Surly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce surly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUR
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Surly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of surly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SUR-lee.
What does surly mean?
- Irritated, bad-tempered, unfriendly.
- Threatening, menacing, gloomy.“The surly weather put us all in a bad mood.”
Where does surly come from?
16th-century alteration of sirly, from sir + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with surly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of surly.
Questions about saying surly
How do you pronounce surly?
Say SUR-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɝli/. In British English it is /ˈsɜːli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in surly?
Surly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUR). Broken into parts: SUR · lee.
Is surly 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 /ˈsɜːli/ (SUR-lee).