Pronunciation: [tˈɛɹəblɪ] (IPA) 
The word "terribly" is spelled with the letter "t" followed by "er," then "i," "b," "l," and "y." In phonetic transcription, it is /ˈtɛrəbli/. The "t" and "er" make up the "ter" sound, followed by the "i" sound, which is pronounced like the "e" in "bet." The "b" and "l" form the "bl" sound, and the "y" at the end makes an "ee" sound. So, the phonetic transcription can help in understanding the pronunciation of the word "terribly."
Terribly is an adverb that can be described as a modifier or intensifier, used to express the extreme degree or intensity of a certain quality or action. It is derived from the adjective "terrible," which denotes something extremely bad, severe, or distressing. Consequently, when something is done or perceived terribly, it is done in an exceptionally poor manner or with great severity.
In general usage, "terribly" is often associated with negative connotations, emphasizing the magnitude of an unpleasant condition or experience. For example, one might say, "I felt terribly sad when I heard the news of his passing," indicating intense sorrow. Similarly, "The food tasted terribly salty," suggests an overwhelming and unpleasant level of saltiness.
However, "terribly" can also be used in a more neutral context to simply emphasize the extent or magnitude of a particular quality or action, without necessarily carrying a negative implication. For example, one might say, "He was terribly excited about his upcoming vacation," implying a high level of enthusiasm.
Ultimately, "terribly" serves as a linguistic tool to intensify the nature of an action, condition, or emotion, conveying a sense of extremity or abundance. Its usage depends on the context and intended effect, emphasizing the degree of something either positively or negatively.
* 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.
The word "terribly" originated from the Middle English term "terible", which was derived from the Old French word "terrible", meaning "to be feared or dreadful". It can be further traced back to the Latin word "terribilis", which carries a similar meaning of causing fear or terror.
