Probly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Informal way of writing probably, used to say something is likely to be true or to happen
2. A casual short form of probably, signalling that something is most likely the case
3. Colloquial shortening of probably, expressing that an outcome or claim is expected but not certain

Etymology: "Probly" is a clipping of "probably," produced by haplology, the process by which one of two adjacent similar sounds or syllables is dropped in speech. In "probably," the sequence "-ably" contains the same "-ab-" sound pattern as the "pro-" beginning, so the middle syllables simplify and the word shortens to two syllables, "PROB-ly." Clippings of this kind are typically informal and spoken, and that is the register "probly" has kept. Because the reduction happens in pronunciation, the spelling "probly" follows the sound rather than the older written form. It works as an adverb with the same sense as "probably," and it is used mainly in casual speech and writing.