How to pronounce yearly
Say it like YEER-lee. Yearly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YEER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce yearly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YEER
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Yearly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of yearly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: YEER-lee.
What does yearly mean?
- a reference book that is published regularly once every year
- occurring or payable every year“an annual trip to Paris”“yearly medical examinations”
- without missing a year“they travel to China annually”
Where does yearly come from?
From Middle English yeerly, yerely, from Old English ġēarlīċ, ġērlīċ (“yearly, of the year, annual”), equivalent to year + -ly (adjectival suffix) or -ly (adverbial suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with yearly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of yearly.
Questions about saying yearly
How do you pronounce yearly?
Say YEER-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈjɪrli/. In British English it is /ˈjɪəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in yearly?
Yearly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YEER). Broken into parts: YEER · lee.
Is yearly 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 /ˈjɪəli/ (YEER-lee).