How to Pronounce Only

To pronounce "only", say ONLY — one syllable, IPA /ˈəʊn.li/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

only

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/ˈəʊn.li/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “only”

"only" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with lonely and pronely, if that helps it stick.

What does only mean?

noun

  1. An only child.

adjective

  1. Alone in a category.

    “He is the only doctor for miles.”

  2. Singularly superior; the best.

adverb

  1. Without others or anything further; exclusively.

    “My heart is hers, and hers only.”

  2. No more than; just.

    “If there were only one more ticket!”

Synonyms

lonesolenonpareilpeerlessunequaled

Hear “only” in real sentences

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

Words that rhyme with only

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

lonelypronelyonelyconely

Related words

alonesolelylonesinglelonesomeexclusivelymerelybut

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "only"?▾

"Only" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "only"?▾

The IPA transcription of "only" is /ˈəʊn.li/.

What does "only" mean?▾

Only: An only child.

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