weakly, weekly

The words weakly, weekly sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Why do weakly, weekly sound the same even though they are completely different words?

The answer is simple: weakly, weekly are homophones of the English language.

weakly
  1. :: adjective

    Delicate in constitution; frail or sickly.

  2. :: adverb

    With little physical strength or force.

  3. :: adverb

    With little strength of character.

weekly
  1. :: adverb

    Once a week.

  2. :: adverb

    Every week.

  3. :: adverb

    By the week.

  4. :: adjective

    Of or relating to a week.

Definitions from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition and Wordnik.

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About Homophones

Homophones (literally "same sound") are usually defined as words that share the same pronunciation, regardless of how they are spelled.

If they are spelled the same then they are also homographs (and homonyms); if they are spelled differently then they are also heterographs (literally "different writing").