How do you pronounce "barely"?

In American English: /ˈbɛrli/ (BEHRL-ee). In British English: /bˈɛəli/ (B-eh-uhl). In Canadian English: /ˈbɛrli/ (BEHRL-ee). In Australian English: /bˈeəli/ (B-eh-uhl).

Is "barely" pronounced differently in American and British English?

Yes. In American English it's pronounced /ˈbɛrli/ (BEHRL-ee), while in British English it's /bˈɛəli/ (B-eh-uhl).

How to Pronounce "barely"

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barely

regional

/ˈbɛrli/

BEHRL-ee

Syllable Breakdown

bɛrlbare·ily

Source

90%confidence📘 CMU Pronouncing Dictionary v0.7b

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Last updated: 2026-02-14