How Do You Spell GNARLY?

Pronunciation: [nˈɑːli] (IPA)

The word "gnarly" is spelled with the letter combination "gn" at the beginning, which is pronounced as a voiced velar nasal /ɡn/. The letter "a" is pronounced with the short vowel sound /æ/ followed by the letter "r" pronounced as an alveolar approximant /r/. The last syllable is pronounced with the letter "l" which is an alveolar lateral approximant /l/ followed by the letter "y" which is pronounced as a semi-vowel /j/. Therefore, the IPA phonetic transcription for "gnarly" is /ˈnɑrli/.

GNARLY Meaning and Definition

  1. Gnarly is an adjective that is primarily used in informal contexts to describe something as difficult, challenging, or rough, but with a certain appeal or coolness. This term originated from the Californian surf culture and was initially used to describe unpredictable and dangerous waves when surfing. Over time, it has expanded its meaning to encompass various other contexts.

    In the surfing community, gnarly is often used to characterize waves that are large, intense, and turbulent, with irregular and unpredictable shapes. By extension, the term has been embraced by skateboarders, snowboarders, and other extreme sports enthusiasts to describe difficult and treacherous conditions or formidable challenges.

    Beyond the realm of extreme sports, gnarly has also come to describe situations, events, or objects that are tough, chaotic, or unattractive, yet fascinating or intriguing in some way. For example, a gnarly old tree may be twisted and weathered but possess a certain striking beauty. Additionally, it is not uncommon for people to use gnarly to describe experiences, such as a gnarly accident or a gnarly performance, to convey the intensity, excitement, or even the shocking nature of the event.

    Overall, gnarly denotes something that is rough, challenging, or chaotic, yet it carries a captivating or captivating quality that attracts attention or fascination.

  2. A knotted or knotty.

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

Top Common Misspellings for GNARLY *

* 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 GNARLY

Etymology of GNARLY

The word "gnarly" originated in California surfer slang during the 1970s. Its etymology is not precisely known, but it is believed to be derived from the word "gnarled", which means twisted, rough, or knotty. In surfer slang, it was initially used to describe a wave with challenging or rough characteristics, often characterized by twists or bumps. Over time, the term "gnarly" expanded beyond surfing to describe anything extreme, difficult, or impressive.

Similar spelling words for GNARLY

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