scarcely

/ˈskɛrsli/

Syllables scarce·ly

Stress SCARCE-ly

Phonics Breakdown

scarce

/skɛrs/

er sound

ly

/li/

-ly suffix

Meaning

almost not; only just

Sound Reference

💡

scarce=/skɛrs/(scarce) + ly=/li/(really)

Example

She had scarcely finished speaking when the phone rang.