English pronunciation · Words Starting with E
Especially Pronunciation
Especially is pronounced uh-SPESH-lee, IPA /əˈspɛʃəli/.
uh-SPESH-lee
US /əˈspɛʃəli/ · UK /ɪˈspɛʃəˌli/
Syllables: uh · SPESH · lee (3 syllables, stress on syllable 2)
adverb: To a greater degree than usual, or more than in other cases.
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Especially in a Sentence
- The garden is lovely, especially in late May.
- She was especially good at the listening tasks.
- Nobody minded, least of all me, and especially not him.
Common Mispronunciations of Especially
Not EX-peh-shuh-lee
No x sound belongs at the front. The word opens with a light uh followed by a plain s.
Not es-pes-ee-AL-ee
The -cially ending compresses to shuh-lee in one movement, so it never spreads into three separate beats.
Tip: Said at speed it usually comes out as three syllables, uh-SPESH-lee, with the i swallowed entirely.
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