phonetically
UK[fəˈnetɪkli]US[fəˈnetɪkli]
adv
In a way that relates to the sounds of speech or the symbols used to represent them.
adv
In a way that represents the sounds of speech with symbols.
Morpheme Breakdown
phonet
ic
ally
phonet
sound
ic
adjective suffix
ally
adverb suffix
Etymology
The word 'phonetically' is built upon the Greek root phōnē, meaning 'sound' or 'voice', which is also the source of words like 'phone' and 'symphony'. The adjectival suffix -ic was attached in Greek to form phōnētikos, meaning 'vocal' or 'relating to the voice', which entered English via Latin. The final adverbial suffix -ally was appended in English, converting the adjective 'phonetic' into its manner form. Thus, the literal construction 'in a sound-related manner' evolved into the modern, specialized meaning of relating to or representing the precise sounds of human speech.
Analysis
Structure: phonet (sound) + ic (adjective suffix) + ally (adverb suffix)
- phonet: From Greek phōnētikos, from phōnē meaning 'sound, voice'. It is the core root conveying the sense of sound or voice.
- ic: A suffix of Greek origin via Latin -icus, used to form adjectives meaning 'of, pertaining to, or characteristic of'.
- ally: A suffix from Latin -ālis via Old French, forming adverbs from adjectives, meaning 'in a manner of'.
Examples
The linguist transcribed the dialect phonetically using the International Phonetic Alphabet.
His name is spelled phonetically as it is pronounced.
Children are often taught to read phonetically, sounding out each letter.