"So early" is spelled as /səʊ ˈɜː.li/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first sound, /s/, is a voiceless alveolar fricative, followed by the vowel sound /əʊ/, which is a diphthong made up of the sounds /o/ and /ʊ/. The third sound, /ˈɜː/, is a stressed open-mid central unrounded vowel, and the final sound, /li/, is a two-syllable ending with an unvoiced /l/ and an unstressed /i/. Overall, this spelling accurately reflects the pronunciation of the phrase "so early."
"So early" is an idiomatic expression used to describe an occurrence or action that happens earlier than expected or at a time that is considered premature or before the usual or anticipated time. This phrase is often used to indicate surprise, dismay, or astonishment at an event occurring before it was predicted, planned, or considered appropriate.
The term "so early" can be applied to various contexts, depending on the situation being discussed. For instance, if someone were to unexpectedly wake up before the usual time, they might exclaim, "I can't believe it's so early!" In this case, the word "so" emphasizes the unexpectedness or a high degree of earliness.
Similarly, when someone arrives at an appointment or event earlier than the designated start time, they might say, "I'm sorry I'm so early." Here, the phrase suggests they arrived ahead of schedule or earlier than others would perceive as appropriate.
Furthermore, "so early" can also be employed to express disappointment or frustration when something is happening earlier than desired or planned. For example, if a person receives an urgent phone call before their desired time to wake up, they might lament, "Why is it so early?" in reference to the inconvenient timing of the call.
Overall, "so early" denotes surprise, dismay, or astonishment at an event or action occurring before the usual or anticipated time, and it can be used in a variety of circumstances to convey the unexpectedness or undesirability of the situation.
The etymology of the word "early" can be traced back to the Old English word "ærlice" which meant "in the morning" or "before dawn". It is derived from the Old English word "ær" meaning "before". Over time, "ærlice" evolved into "earlice" and eventually became "early" in Modern English.
The word "so" used in the phrase "so early" is an adverb that originates from the Old English word "swa", meaning "thus" or "in this way". It has been used to intensify or emphasize the degree or extent of something, or to express agreement or confirmation. When combined with "early", it emphasizes the earliness of the specific time mentioned.