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gradually

Phonetic Transcription:

ˈɡrædʒʊəli

Examples:

The theory proliferated gradually.

As they had expected, it resurged gradually.

The economy of the country gradually recovered.

Learn more about:
gradually

Related Words:

slowly

steady

regularly

How to perfect your pronunciation of: gradually

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Break gradually down into individual sounds such as ˈɡrædʒʊəli. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.

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Common mistakes of gradually pronunciation

Misplacing the stress: Many learners place stress incorrectly on the second syllable, saying "gra-DU-al-ly" instead of the correct "GRAD-u-al-ly" /ˈɡrædʒuəli/ (US) /ˈɡrædʒʊəli/ (UK). Tip: Remember to stress the first syllable.
Omitting the vowel sound: Some speakers skip the middle vowel sound, pronouncing it as "gradjully" instead of "gradually". This leads to confusion as the word loses its clarity. Tip: Focus on clearly articulating each syllable.
Incorrect vowel pronunciation: Learners often mispronounce the "a" in "gradually" as /æ/ instead of /ɪ/. This can lead to saying "graddjully" instead of the correct form. Tip: Practice saying "grad" with the correct vowel sound.
Overemphasizing the "u": Some may exaggerate the "u" sound, saying "gra-du-al-ly" with a distinct separation. This can make the word sound unnatural. Tip: Blend the "u" smoothly into the flow of the word.
Confusing with similar words: It's common to confuse "gradually" with "gradual" or "graduate", leading to incorrect pronunciations. "Gradually" has an extra syllable. Tip: Pay attention to the syllable count: "grad-u-al-ly" has four syllables.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "gradually" in American English?

In American English, "gradually" is pronounced as /ˈɡrædʒuəli/. The primary stress is on the first syllable, "grad," which sounds like "grad," and the "u" is pronounced as a schwa, sounding like "joo-uh-lee."

What is the British pronunciation of "gradually"?

In British English, "gradually" is pronounced the same way as in American English, /ˈɡrædʒuəli/. However, the vowel sounds may be slightly different, with a clearer "a" in the first syllable.

How many syllables are in the word "gradually"?

The word "gradually" has four syllables: "grad-u-al-ly." Each syllable is pronounced clearly, with the first syllable receiving the primary stress.

Are there any common mistakes when pronouncing "gradually"?

A common mistake is to misplace the stress, pronouncing it as /ɡrædʒuˈəli/ instead of /ˈɡrædʒuəli/. It's important to keep the stress on the first syllable to sound natural.