How do you pronounce "mainly"?

In American English: /ˈmeɪnli/ (MAYNL-ee). In British English: /mˈeɪnli/ (M-aynl). In Canadian English: /ˈmeɪnli/ (MAYNL-ee). In Australian English: /mˈeɪnli/ (M-aynl).

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

Yes. In American English it's pronounced /ˈmeɪnli/ (MAYNL-ee), while in British English it's /mˈeɪnli/ (M-aynl).

How to Pronounce "mainly"

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mainly

/ˈmeɪnli/

MAYNL-ee

Syllable Breakdown

meɪnlmain·ily

Source

90%confidence📘 CMU Pronouncing Dictionary v0.7b

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Last updated: 2026-02-14