How to pronounce worldly
Say it like WURLD-lee. Worldly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WURLD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce worldly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WURLD
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Worldly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WURLDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of worldly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WURLD-lee.
What does worldly mean?
- Concerned with human or earthly matters, physical as opposed to spiritual.
- Concerned with secular rather than sacred matters.
- Sophisticated, especially because of surfeit; versed in the ways of the world.
- In a worldly manner.
Where does worldly come from?
From Middle English worldly, worldlich, wordly (adjective), from Old English woruldlīċ, worldlīċ, weoroldlīċ (“worldly; earthly; temporal; mundane; secular”), from Proto-Germanic *weraldilīkaz, equivalent to world + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying worldly
How do you pronounce worldly?
Say WURLD-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɝldli/. In British English it is /ˈwɜːldli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in worldly?
Worldly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WURLD). Broken into parts: WURLD · lee.
Is worldly pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈwɜːldli/ (WURLD-lee).