How to Pronounce Basically

To pronounce "basically", say BAS-ic-ally — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈbeɪsɪkɫi/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

basically

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

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3

Syllables

9

Letters

/ˈbeɪsɪkɫi/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/bˈeɪsɪkli/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “basically”

Break "basically" into 3 beats and lean on "BAS" — that's the stressed one.

What does basically mean?

adverb

  1. In a fundamental, essential or basic manner

    “They've added some fancy features, but it's basically still a car.”

  2. Mostly; generally; for the most part

Synonyms

chieflymore often than notessentiallyfundamentally

Hear “basically” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Related words

fundamentallyessentiallyfundamentaloriginallyprincipleintrinsicallysubstantivelymaterially

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "basically"?▾

"Basically" has 3 syllables: bas · ic · ally.

What is the IPA transcription of "basically"?▾

The IPA transcription of "basically" is /ˈbeɪsɪkɫi/.

What does "basically" mean?▾

Basically: In a fundamental, essential or basic manner

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