How To Pronounce Only
only
In British English, only is pronounced /ˈəʊn.li/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈə͠ʊn.li]. In American English, it is pronounced /ˈoʊn.li/.
Only has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first syllable. The British and American pronunciations are different, so listen to both.
Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.
Syllables, Stress And Endings
Syllables And Stress
Only has two syllables in British English, and the main stress is on the first syllable, shown in colour above. Its stress pattern is Oo, where O is the stressed syllable.
Words That Rhyme With Only
Questions About Only
How do you pronounce only in British English?
In British English, only is pronounced /ˈəʊn.li/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈə͠ʊn.li].
How do you pronounce only in American English?
In American English, only is pronounced /ˈoʊn.li/.
How many syllables are in only?
Only has two syllables, /əʊn/ + /li/.
Where is the stress in only?
The main stress is on the first syllable, /əʊn/.
Do British and American English pronounce only the same way?
No. British English has /ˈəʊn.li/ and American English has /ˈoʊn.li/.
Other Words With The Stress Pattern Oo
Nearby Words
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