How to pronounce ungainly
Say it like un-GAYN-lee. Ungainly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GAYN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ungainly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- un
- GAYN
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ungainly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- GAYNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of ungainly
American and British speakers say ungainly in essentially the same way: /ʌnˈɡeɪnli/ in the US and /ʌnˈɡeɪnli/ in the UK.
British respelling: un-GAYN-lee.
What does ungainly mean?
- Clumsy; lacking grace.
- Gangling
- Difficult to move or to manage; unwieldy.
- An ungainly person or thing.
Where does ungainly come from?
From un- (“not”) + gainly (“graceful; becoming; proper, suitable; gracious, kindly”) (from gain (“dexterous; convenient, easy, handy; suitable”), from Old Norse gegn (“fit, serviceable; direct, straight; honest; kindly”) + -ly (suffix formi
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with ungainly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ungainly.
Questions about saying ungainly
How do you pronounce ungainly?
Say un-GAYN-lee. The American pronunciation is /ʌnˈɡeɪnli/. In British English it is /ʌnˈɡeɪnli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ungainly?
Ungainly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GAYN). Broken into parts: un · GAYN · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say ungainly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ʌnˈɡeɪnli/ and the British form is /ʌnˈɡeɪnli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.