English pronunciation · Words Starting with R
Rarely Pronunciation
Rarely is pronounced RER-lee, IPA /ˈrɛrli/.
RER-lee
US /ˈrɛrli/ · UK /ˈreəli/
Syllables: RER · lee (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
adverb: Not often, or hardly ever.
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Rarely in a Sentence
- He rarely answers the phone before noon.
- The shop is rarely busy on a Monday.
- Snow falls here rarely, and never for long.
Common Mispronunciations of Rarely
Not RAY-er-lee
Two beats carry the word, with the l arriving straight after the vowel and no extra piece between them.
Not RA-ree-lee
Rare lends its whole sound to this word, so the opening is the vowel of air rather than the a of cat.
Tip: Rarely at the front of a sentence flips the order after it: rarely have I seen such a crowd.
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