How to pronounce “really”
Really is pronounced /ˈrɪliː/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the first one — rɪ. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 2 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting rɪ in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern Oo — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “really”
✗ Often said: /ˈriːliː/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈrɪliː/
Why the two come apart: at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “really” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“really” sound by sound
“really” is built out of 4 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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rCurl the tongue tip back (or bunch the tongue body up) without touching anything, round the lips slightly, and voice — the tongue must never tap the roof of the mouth.
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ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
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lTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth and let the voiced air flow around the sides of the tongue.
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iːSpread the lips into a smile, push the front of the tongue high and forward, and hold the sound tense and long.
Words that rhyme with “really”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “really”
Each of these differs from “really” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “really”
- How do you pronounce “really”?
- “really” is pronounced /ˈrɪliː/, with the stress on the first syllable (rɪ). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “really”?
- “really” has 2 syllables: rɪ · liː. The stress pattern is Oo.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “really”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈriːliː/, but it is actually /ˈrɪliː/, because at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
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