courtly
/ˈkɔɹtli/adjective, adverb
courtly is spelled C-O-U-R-T-L-Y: 7 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 47,633rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, courtly means “Befitting of a royal court; reflecting the manners or behaviour of people at court; stately, rich or fine, and so suitable for a royal court” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in courtly?
| Letters | 7: C-O-U-R-T-L-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 47,633rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is courtly?
Courtly appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 47,633rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce courtly?
- UK /ˈkɔːtli/
- US /ˈkɔɹtli/
Courtly has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Flame,_not_lame-courtly.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with courtly?
2 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as courtly from its last stressed vowel (/ɔɹtli/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of courtly
- courtlier comparative
- courtliest superlative
- more courtly comparative
- most courtly superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does courtly mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Befitting of a royal court; reflecting the manners or behaviour of people at court; stately, rich or fine, and so suitable for a royal court.
He swept off his hat and made a deep courtly bow.
- 2
Of or relating to courtly love or courtship.
- 3
Of or relating to a royal court.
She tried to remain aloof from courtly intrigues.
- 4
obsoleteOverly eager to please or obey.
adverb
- 1
In the manner of a royal court; in a manner befitting of a royal court.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Courtly in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense of or befitting of a royal court:
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does courtly come from?
From Middle English courtly, equivalent to court + -ly.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).