How to pronounce ugly
Say it like UHG-lee. Ugly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UHG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ugly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- UHG
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ugly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- UHGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of ugly
American and British speakers say ugly in essentially the same way: /ˈʌɡli/ in the US and /ˈʌɡli/ in the UK.
British respelling: UHG-lee.
What does ugly mean?
- displeasing to the senses“an ugly face”“ugly furniture”
- inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace“a surly waiter”“an ugly frame of mind”
- morally reprehensible“would do something as despicable as murder”“ugly crimes”
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying ugly
How do you pronounce ugly?
Say UHG-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈʌɡli/. In British English it is /ˈʌɡli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ugly?
Ugly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UHG). Broken into parts: UHG · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say ugly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈʌɡli/ and the British form is /ˈʌɡli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.