How to pronounce unseemly
Say it like un-SEEM-lee. Unseemly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEEM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unseemly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- un
- SEEM
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unseemly 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 relaxed "uh" in about.
- SEEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of unseemly
American and British speakers say unseemly in essentially the same way: /ənˈsimli/ in the US and /ənˈsiːmli/ in the UK.
British respelling: un-SEEM-lee.
What does unseemly mean?
- Inconsistent with established standards of good form or taste.“He was drunk and made some very unseemly comments.”
- In an unseemly manner.
Where does unseemly come from?
From Middle English unsemli, probably a partial calque of Old Norse úsǽmiligr (“unseemly”); equivalent to un- + seemly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with unseemly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unseemly.
Questions about saying unseemly
How do you pronounce unseemly?
Say un-SEEM-lee. The American pronunciation is /ənˈsimli/. In British English it is /ənˈsiːmli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unseemly?
Unseemly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEEM). Broken into parts: un · SEEM · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say unseemly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ənˈsimli/ and the British form is /ənˈsiːmli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.