How Do You Spell BELLY?

Pronunciation: [bˈɛlɪ] (IPA)

The word "belly" is spelled with five letters, but it has three syllables. The first syllable is "bel," pronounced with a short "e" sound followed by a "l" sound. The second syllable is "ly," pronounced with a long "e" sound and a "l" sound. The last syllable is silent. The IPA phonetic transcription for "belly" is /ˈbɛli/. This word is used to describe the front part of the human body between the chest and the pelvis.

BELLY Meaning and Definition

  1. The term "belly" refers to the soft and typically rounded area of the body located between the chest and the pelvis. It is the anatomical region that houses several vital organs including the stomach, intestines, liver, and spleen. With its outward and bulging appearance, the belly is often associated with the abdomen, although the two terms are not entirely interchangeable.

    Apart from its physiological meaning, "belly" also has symbolic and metaphorical connotations. It can reflect a state of physical fullness or satiety, usually in reference to having eaten a substantial amount of food. In this context, the word can describe a distended or bloated abdomen after overeating or excessive consumption. Furthermore, "belly" can be used metaphorically to express various emotions or desires. For instance, the phrase "butterflies in the belly" alludes to the sensation of nervousness or anticipation before an event, while saying someone has a "fire in the belly" suggests a passionate or driven personality.

    In certain contexts, "belly" can also refer to the rounded or swollen part of an object, such as the rounded bottom of a bottle or jug. Additionally, the word is commonly employed in the context of animals, as in "belly of a whale" or "belly of a fish," to describe their abdominal regions. Overall, "belly" encompasses a range of literal, metaphorical, and symbolic meanings, making it a versatile term in both anatomical and metaphorical usage.

  2. 1. The abdomen; the stomach; the womb. 2. The prominent thick central part of a muscle.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

  3. • That part of the body of an animal which contains the bowels; that part of a thing which swells out; a hollow place or cavity.
    • To fill or swell out; to become protuberant.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for BELLY *

* 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 BELLY

Etymology of BELLY

The word "belly" has its origins in the Old English word "bælig", which referred to the abdomen or stomach. This Old English term is likely derived from the Proto-Germanic word "balgiz" or "balga", meaning "bag" or "skin". It is also related to the Old High German word "balg" and the Old Norse word "belgr". The word "belly" has undergone minimal changes throughout its history and remains largely unchanged in modern English.

Idioms with the word BELLY

  • go/turn belly up The idiom "go/turn belly up" refers to the act of failing or going bankrupt. It is often used to describe a business, venture, or organization that has collapsed or ceased to exist due to financial difficulties or mismanagement.
  • go belly up The idiom "go belly up" means to fail or go bankrupt. It is often used to describe the downfall or collapse of a business or organization.
  • fire in your/the belly The idiom "fire in your/the belly" refers to a strong sense of determination, passion, and drive. It suggests having a deep motivation or enthusiasm for something, typically related to achieving goals or pursuing success.
  • a belly laugh The idiom "a belly laugh" refers to a deep and hearty laughter that originates from the gut, signifying genuine amusement or extreme hilarity. It often involves audible and uncontrolled laughter.
  • turn belly up The idiom "turn belly up" means to fail or go bankrupt. It is often used to describe the downfall or collapse of a business, organization, or financial venture.
  • have a yellow belly The idiom "have a yellow belly" refers to someone who is considered cowardly, lacking courage or bravery in the face of danger or adversity.
  • belly up (to sth) The idiom "belly up (to sth)" typically means approaching or confronting something directly and fearlessly, often with determination or confidence. It can also refer to facing a challenge or problem head-on without hesitation. This phrase is derived from the image of a person or animal stepping forward with their belly pushed forward, displaying their readiness to confront a situation.
  • belly up The idiom "belly up" is typically used to describe a situation where something or someone has failed, gone bankrupt, or is no longer functioning. It refers to the position of a dead fish when it floats to the surface of the water, with its belly facing upwards.
  • belly out The idiom "belly out" means to protrude or expand, usually referring to a bulging or rounded belly. It can be used to describe someone's stomach being visibly larger or to refer to a physical object that appears swollen or bloated.
  • fire in belly The idiom "fire in the belly" refers to a deep passion, drive, or determination within a person to succeed or achieve their goals. It symbolizes a strong inner motivation or intense enthusiasm towards something.
  • belly laugh The idiom "belly laugh" refers to a deep, hearty, and genuine laugh that comes from the core of one's being, often characterized by a loud and uncontrollable sound. It signifies a moment of extreme amusement or delight that is expressed through a robust burst of laughter.
  • belly up to the bar The idiom "belly up to the bar" means to approach or position oneself at a bar or counter, usually to order a drink or engage in conversational socializing. It implies a casual and relaxed attitude, often associated with the act of enjoying alcoholic beverages.
  • beer belly The idiom "beer belly" refers to a protruding or prominent belly, typically resulting from excessive consumption of beer or other alcoholic beverages. It describes the accumulation of fat in the abdominal area due to the high caloric content and lack of nutritional value found in alcoholic drinks, particularly beer.
  • Basra belly The idiom "Basra belly" refers to a severe case of traveler's diarrhea, typically encountered by individuals visiting or travelling through the Middle East, specifically the city of Basra in Iraq. It is used to describe a sudden and intense gastrointestinal illness marked by symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, and discomfort.
  • belly button The idiom "belly button" refers to the navel, the depression in the middle of the stomach where the umbilical cord was attached during infancy. This term is sometimes used metaphorically to emphasize the deepest or most central part of something.
  • belly up to something The idiom "belly up to something" typically means to approach or get close to something in an enthusiastic or eager manner. It is often used to describe someone's attitude or approach when faced with a task, challenge, or opportunity.
  • Delhi belly The term "Delhi belly" refers to a colloquial expression used to describe a case of acute gastroenteritis or traveler's diarrhea, typically experienced by individuals visiting or residing in Delhi, India. It signifies an episode of stomach upset, characterized by symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
  • fire in your belly The idiom "fire in your belly" refers to a passionate or intense determination, energy, or drive that pushes someone to pursue their goals or dreams. It represents a strong motivation or ambition that fuels one's actions and propels them forward, often accompanied by a sense of enthusiasm and fervor.
  • yellow-belly The idiom "yellow-belly" refers to a person who is seen as cowardly or lacking bravery. It suggests that the person lacks courage or determination in the face of danger or adversity.
  • fire in the (or your) belly The idiom "fire in the (or your) belly" refers to a strong determination, passion, or motivation one feels towards a particular goal or pursuit. It signifies a deep drive or enthusiasm that fuels one's actions and pushes them to overcome obstacles or challenges.
  • A growing youth has a wolf in his belly. The idiom "A growing youth has a wolf in his belly" refers to the idea that teenagers or young individuals have a strong, constant need for food. It suggests that during periods of growth and development, young people can exhibit a seemingly insatiable hunger.
  • eyes are bigger than belly The idiom "eyes are bigger than belly" is used to describe a situation where someone takes or desires more food than they can actually eat. It signifies the tendency to overestimate one's ability or capacity and is often used to caution against excessive greed or ambition.
  • (one's) eyes are bigger than (one's) belly The phrase "(one's) eyes are bigger than (one's) belly" means that someone has taken or asked for more food, objects, or responsibilities than they can actually handle or consume. It suggests that the person's desire or ambition outweighs their actual capacity or ability to fulfill their desires or complete the tasks at hand.
  • someone's eyes are bigger than their belly The idiom "someone's eyes are bigger than their belly" means that someone has taken or accepted more food, items, or tasks than they can handle or consume. It suggests that the person's ambition or desires exceed their actual capacity, leading to an inability to fulfill or complete all that they have taken on.
  • sb's eyes are bigger than their belly/stomach The idiom "sb's eyes are bigger than their belly/stomach" is used to describe a situation where someone takes more food than they can actually eat or more responsibilities than they can handle. It implies that the person's ambitions or desires are greater than their actual capabilities or capacity to fulfill them.
  • have eyes bigger than (one's) belly The idiom "have eyes bigger than (one's) belly" refers to someone who takes more food or resources than they can actually consume or handle. It means to have an excessive desire or ambition that exceeds one's capacity or ability to fulfill.
  • air belly
  • air one's belly
  • belly fiddle
  • growing youth has a wolf in his belly
  • air one’s belly

Similar spelling words for BELLY

Plural form of BELLY is BELLIES

Conjugate verb Belly

CONDITIONAL

I would belly
you would belly
he/she/it would belly
we would belly
they would belly

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be bellying
you would be bellying
he/she/it would be bellying
we would be bellying
they would be bellying

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have belly
you would have belly
he/she/it would have belly
we would have belly
they would have belly

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been bellying
you would have been bellying
he/she/it would have been bellying
we would have been bellying
they would have been bellying

FUTURE

I will belly
you will belly
he/she/it will belly
we will belly
they will belly

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be bellying
you will be bellying
he/she/it will be bellying
we will be bellying
they will be bellying

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have bellied
you will have bellied
he/she/it will have bellied
we will have bellied
they will have bellied

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been bellying
you will have been bellying
he/she/it will have been bellying
we will have been bellying
they will have been bellying

IMPERATIVE

you belly
we let´s belly

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to belly

PAST

I bellied
you bellied
he/she/it bellied
we bellied
they bellied

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was bellying
you were bellying
he/she/it was bellying
we were bellying
they were bellying

PAST PARTICIPLE

bellied

PAST PERFECT

I had bellied
you had bellied
he/she/it had bellied
we had bellied
they had bellied

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been bellying
you had been bellying
he/she/it had been bellying
we had been bellying
they had been bellying

PRESENT

I belly
you belly
he/she/it bellies
we belly
they belly

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am bellying
you are bellying
he/she/it is bellying
we are bellying
they are bellying

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

bellying

PRESENT PERFECT

I have bellied
you have bellied
he/she/it has bellied
we have bellied
they have bellied

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been bellying
you have been bellying
he/she/it has been bellying
we have been bellying
they have been bellying

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