Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

-ibly

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: -i-bly
IPA

9

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

3

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

suffix

Used to form adverbs corresponding to adjectives that end in -ible.

Example Sentences

"audible → audibly"

Etymology

Euphonic blend of -ible + -ly, due to difficulty of pronouncing *-iblely. Compare same sound change in unrelated feebly, nimbly, and nobly.

Inflected Forms

-ably (alternative)

Questions

What does -ibly mean?: Used to form adverbs corresponding to adjectives that end in -ible.
Where does -ibly come from?: Euphonic blend of -ible + -ly, due to difficulty of pronouncing *-iblely. Compare same sound change in unrelated feebly, nimbly, and nobly.

How to pronounce -ibly

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “-ibly”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “-ibly”.
Repeat and practice — Say “-ibly” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.