softly

English

Etymology

From Middle English softely, softeliche, equivalent to soft +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

(General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsɔftli/
(cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈsɑftli/
(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsɒftli/
Audio (US) (file)

Adverb

softly (comparative softlier or more softly, superlative softliest or most softly)

In a soft manner; gently.
The masseuse was rubbing my back too softly for my liking, so I asked her to go harder.
- 1861, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage:
  He had married a lady well educated and softly nurtured, but not dowered with worldly wealth. […] They would give up ideas of gentle living, of soft raiment, and delicate feeding.
Not loudly; nearly inaudibly.
whisper softly in someone's ear

play music softly

Derived terms

Translations

softly, gently

Belarusian: мя́кка (mjákka)
Burmese: တိုးတိုး (tui:tui:)
Catalan: suaument (ca)
Dutch: zachtjes (nl), zachtaardig (nl), zachtzinnig (nl)
French: doucement (fr)
Galician: suavemente (gl)
German: sachte (de)
Hungarian: lágyan (hu)
Italian: delicatamente (it)
Korean: 부드럽게 (budeureopge)
Latin: molliter, leniter
Norman: mollement
Polish: delikatnie (pl)
Portuguese: suavemente (pt)
Russian: мя́гко (ru) (mjáxko)
Spanish: suavemente (es)
Telugu: మెత్తగా (te) (mettagā)
Ukrainian: м'я́ко (mʺjáko)
West Frisian: súntsjes

not loudly, inaudible

Belarusian: ці́ха (cíxa)
Danish: blidt
Dutch: zacht (nl)
German: leise (de)
Hungarian: halkan (hu)
Italian: sottovoce (it)
Polish: cicho (pl)
Portuguese: suavemente (pt)
Russian: ти́хо (ru) (tíxo)
Spanish: inaudiblemente, silenciosamente
Ukrainian: ти́хо (týxo)

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