How do you pronounce "only"?

In American English: /ˈoʊnli/ (OHNL-ee). In British English: /ˈəʊnli/ (OHNL-ee). In Canadian English: /ˈoʊnli/ (OHNL-ee). In Australian English: /ˈəʊnli/ (OHNL-ee).

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

Yes. In American English it's pronounced /ˈoʊnli/ (OHNL-ee), while in British English it's /ˈəʊnli/ (OHNL-ee).

How to Pronounce "only" | pronounce.how

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only

regional

/ˈoʊnli/

OHNL-ee

Syllable Breakdown

oʊnlon·ily

Source

90%confidence📘 CMU Pronouncing Dictionary v0.7b

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Last updated: 2026-02-14