How to pronounce weakly
Say it like WEE-klee. Weakly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce weakly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WEE
- klee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Weakly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- kleeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of weakly
American and British speakers say weakly in essentially the same way: /ˈwikli/ in the US and /ˈwiːkli/ in the UK.
British respelling: WEE-klee.
What does weakly mean?
- With little strength or force.
- Frail, sickly or of a delicate constitution; weak.
Where does weakly come from?
From Old English wāclīċe (“weakly”), equivalent to weak + -ly (adjectival suffix); compare Old English wāclīċ (“weak; ignoble; mean”), and Old Norse veikligr (“weakly; sick”); both ultimately from Proto-Germanic *waikalīkaz (“weakly; weak”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with weakly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of weakly.
Words that sound like weakly
Questions about saying weakly
How do you pronounce weakly?
Say WEE-klee. The American pronunciation is /ˈwikli/. In British English it is /ˈwiːkli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in weakly?
Weakly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WEE). Broken into parts: WEE · klee.
Do Americans and Brits say weakly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈwikli/ and the British form is /ˈwiːkli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as weakly?
Weakly sounds the same as weekly in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.