How to Pronounce Unlikely

To pronounce "unlikely", say UNL-ik-ely — 3 syllables, IPA /ʌnˈlaɪkli/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

unlikely

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/ʌnˈlaɪkli/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “unlikely”

"unlikely" has 3 syllables: unl-ik-ely. It rhymes with likely and reichley, if that helps it stick.

What does unlikely mean?

noun

Something or somebody considered unlikely.

adjective

Not likely; improbable; not to be reasonably expected.
“It's very unlikely that you'll be able to walk perfectly after being in a cast for six months.”
Not holding out a prospect of success; likely to fail; unpromising.
“unlikely means”

adverb

In an improbable manner.

Hear “unlikely” 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 unlikely

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

likely reichley

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "unlikely"?▾

"Unlikely" has 3 syllables: unl · ik · ely.

What is the IPA transcription of "unlikely"?▾

The IPA transcription of "unlikely" is /ʌnˈlaɪkli/.

What does "unlikely" mean?▾

Unlikely: Something or somebody considered unlikely.

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