How Do You Spell LEARY?

Pronunciation: [lˈi͡əɹi] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "leary" can be a bit confusing. Its correct spelling is actually "leery," which means to be suspicious or wary of something or someone. The IPA phonetic transcription for "leery" is /ˈlɪəri/, indicating that the first syllable is pronounced as "leer" with a long "e" sound and the second syllable is pronounced with a soft "r" and a short "i" sound. So, the next time you encounter the word "leery," remember its peculiar spelling and its meaning of being cautious.

Top Common Misspellings for LEARY *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for LEARY

Etymology of LEARY

The word "leary" is derived from the surname "O'Leary", which originated in Ireland. The name O'Leary is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Ó Laoghaire". The Gaelic name consists of two parts: "Ó", which means "descendent of", and "Laoghaire", a personal name that translates to "shepherd". Over time, "O'Leary" came to be used as a common Irish surname. The term "leary" emerged as a colloquialism in English, particularly in American English, and is used to describe someone who is suspicious, cautious, or distrustful.

Similar spelling words for LEARY

Infographic

Add the infographic to your website: