How to Pronounce PROBABLY

How to Pronounce PROBABLY

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Though this is a content word, it’s frequently reduced.  Learn how to practice this word by breaking it down sound by sound, knowing what’s stressed and what’s not.  Then put it all together to feel confident using this word in American English conversation.

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Video Text:

In this American English pronunciation video, we’re going to go over the pronunciation of the word ‘probably’.

This week’s Word of the Week is ‘probably’.   ‘Probably’ is a three-syllable word, but some people will reduce it to two syllables.  The first syllable is stressed.  We begin with the PR consonant cluster, pr-, pr-.  So the lips are together for the P, but the tongue can already be in position for the R.  Pr-, pr-, pro.  The first vowel is the AH as in FATHER sound.  The jaw does need to drop for that:  pro-, pro-.  The second syllable, unstressed, proba-, -ba-, is the B consonant, where the lips come together, and the schwa sound.  Proba-, proba-.  And the last syllable, the B consonant, and then the LY ending.  Proba-bly, -bly.  So the lips come together for the B, and the tongue tip comes up here for the L, -bl-, -bl-.  And then we have the EE as in SHE vowel.  Probably, probably.

As I said, some people will reduce this to two syllables, so you might here pro-bly, -bly, without the middle syllable.  Prob-ly, prob-ly.  And sometimes you’ll hear it without the B at all:  ‘prolly’, ‘prolly’, ‘prolly’.  Both of these reductions are used a lot.

For example:  prob-ly:  I’ll probably be there.  Prob-ly, prob-ly.

Or, ‘prolly’, ‘prolly’.  I’ll probably forget.  ‘Prolly’, ‘prolly’.

That’s it, your Word of the Week.  Try it out yourself.  Make up a sentence with the word, record it, and post it as a video response to this video on YouTube.  I can’t wait to watch it.

That’s it, and thanks so much for using Rachel’s English.

Video:

How to Pronounce PROBABLY

Share

Tweet

Share

Though this is a content word, it’s frequently reduced.  Learn how to practice this word by breaking it down sound by sound, knowing what’s stressed and what’s not.  Then put it all together to feel confident using this word in American English conversation.

YouTube blocked? Click here to see the video.

Video Text:

In this American English pronunciation video, we’re going to go over the pronunciation of the word ‘probably’.

This week’s Word of the Week is ‘probably’.   ‘Probably’ is a three-syllable word, but some people will reduce it to two syllables.  The first syllable is stressed.  We begin with the PR consonant cluster, pr-, pr-.  So the lips are together for the P, but the tongue can already be in position for the R.  Pr-, pr-, pro.  The first vowel is the AH as in FATHER sound.  The jaw does need to drop for that:  pro-, pro-.  The second syllable, unstressed, proba-, -ba-, is the B consonant, where the lips come together, and the schwa sound.  Proba-, proba-.  And the last syllable, the B consonant, and then the LY ending.  Proba-bly, -bly.  So the lips come together for the B, and the tongue tip comes up here for the L, -bl-, -bl-.  And then we have the EE as in SHE vowel.  Probably, probably.

As I said, some people will reduce this to two syllables, so you might here pro-bly, -bly, without the middle syllable.  Prob-ly, prob-ly.  And sometimes you’ll hear it without the B at all:  ‘prolly’, ‘prolly’, ‘prolly’.  Both of these reductions are used a lot.

For example:  prob-ly:  I’ll probably be there.  Prob-ly, prob-ly.

Or, ‘prolly’, ‘prolly’.  I’ll probably forget.  ‘Prolly’, ‘prolly’.

That’s it, your Word of the Week.  Try it out yourself.  Make up a sentence with the word, record it, and post it as a video response to this video on YouTube.  I can’t wait to watch it.

That’s it, and thanks so much for using Rachel’s English.

Video: