Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

certainly

/ˈsɝ.tn̩.li/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.00 in modern English

Syllables
cer-tain-ly
IPA
/ˈsɝ.tn̩.li/
14
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

In a way which is certain; with certainty.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English certeynly; equivalent to certain + -ly.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈsɝ.tn̩.li/
  • British English: /ˈsɜː.tn̩.li/

Inflected Forms

more certainly (comparative) certainlier (comparative, obsolete) most certainly (superlative) certainliest (obsolete, rare)

Derived Forms

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Antonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce certainly?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsɝ.tn̩.li/.
What does certainly mean?
In a way which is certain; with certainty.
Where does certainly come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce certainly

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “certainly”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈsɝ.tn̩.li/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “certainly”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “certainly” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.