How to pronounce timely
Say it like TYME-lee. Timely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TYME).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce timely. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TYME
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Timely pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TYMESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of timely
American and British speakers say timely in essentially the same way: /ˈtaɪmli/ in the US and /ˈtaɪmli/ in the UK.
British respelling: TYME-lee.
What does timely mean?
- before a time limit expires“the timely filing of his income tax return”
- done or happening at the appropriate or proper time“a timely warning”“with timely treatment the patient has a good chance of recovery”
- at an opportune time“your letter arrived apropos”
Where does timely come from?
From Middle English timely, tymely, timliche, from Old English *tīmlīc (adjective) and tīmlīċe (“in good time; timely; soon”, adverb), equivalent to time + -ly.
Questions about saying timely
How do you pronounce timely?
Say TYME-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈtaɪmli/. In British English it is /ˈtaɪmli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in timely?
Timely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TYME). Broken into parts: TYME · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say timely the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtaɪmli/ and the British form is /ˈtaɪmli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.