What does especially mean?
Word: Especially
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: Especially means more than usual, or more than anything else in a group. It can also mean for a particular person or reason, as in a card made for one friend.
Synonyms: specially, chiefly, mainly
How do you spell especially?
Syllables: es - pe - cial - ly
Tricky part: The middle is spelt cial, as in special, even though it sounds like shul.
Watch out for: espeshally, especally, espetially
Memory tip: The sh sound in the middle is spelt ci, just as it is in social and official.
Especially in a sentence
Example 1: I like all seasons, especially the monsoon.
Example 2: The roads near the stadium get crowded, especially on match days.
Example 3: The tailor stitched this costume especially for the school play.
Fun Fact
Especially and specially both come from the Latin specialis, 'of a particular kind'; especially reached English through Old French, which liked to put an e in front of words beginning with sp.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) especialy
b) beautifully
c) certainly
d) occasionally
Show answer
a) especialy. Special ends in l, and ly brings a second one.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
My grandfather loves mangoes, expecially the sweet Alphonso ones that arrive from Ratnagiri in May.
a) Ratnagiri
b) grandfather
c) expecially
d) mangoes
Show answer
c) expecially. The word opens with es; there is no x sound or letter in it.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
especially
a) rarely
b) particularly
c) generally
d) barely
Show answer
b) particularly. Especially and particularly both single out one thing above the rest.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
lysicealpe
a) specially
b) spatially
c) essentially
d) especially
Show answer
d) especially. Specially is one letter short, essentially needs an n and a t, and spatially a t; all ten letters spell especially.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In 'Adam likes sports, especially hockey', what do we learn?
a) He has never played sport.
b) Hockey is his favourite sport.
c) He plays only hockey.
d) He dislikes hockey.
Show answer
b) Hockey is his favourite sport.
2. Grandma baked a cake especially for Asha. This means ____.
a) she made it with Asha in mind
b) she made it to sell
c) she made it by mistake
d) she made it every day
Show answer
a) she made it with Asha in mind
