Dictionary-enhanced plural guide
What is the Plural of “Certainly”?
This page treats the word as a noun when it has a countable noun use.
Singular and Plural Form of Certainly
Certainly is the singular noun form. Certainlies is the plural form.
Dictionary meaning: Definitely or for sure; used to show you are confident or to agree with someone.
Why is the Plural of Certainly “certainlies”?
The Regular Plural Rule for Certainly
When a word ends in consonant + y, change the y to -ies. Example: certainly → certainlies
How to Remember the Plural of Certainly
Just add -s to “certainly” to make “certainlies”. Most English nouns follow this pattern.
A common slip-up: Don't say 'SER-tin-lee'; the second syllable contains a schwa: 'SER-tn̩-lee'. The 'ai' is quick and unstressed..
Singular vs Plural Examples with Certainly
See certainly and certainlies used in real sentences side by side.
- You will certainly enjoy the movie if you like action films. A2
- The project is certainly going to take longer than we initially planned. B1
- A: Can you help me? B: Certainly, I'd be happy to assist you. A2
How to Pronounce Certainly and Certainlies
Pronounce with stress on the first syllable: SER-tn̩-lee. The middle part sounds like a quick 'tn̩' (schwa with n).
Origin and Etymology of Certainly
Adverb form of 'certain', formed with the suffix -ly.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Plural of Certainly
What is the plural of “certainly”?
The plural of “certainly” is “certainlies”.
Is “certainlies” regular or irregular?
This page classifies it as regular based on the available plural data.