Vocabulary
B2
6 min read
Updated 15 June 2026
Quick Answer
Especially means “particularly” or “above all,” used to emphasise that something stands out: I love fruit, especially mangoes. Specially means “for a particular purpose” or “deliberately for one reason”: this cake was made specially for you. If you can replace the word with “particularly,” use especially; if you mean “for a specific purpose,” use specially.
Especially and specially are so close in sound and meaning that even native speakers hesitate. Both come from the word special, but they do slightly different jobs. Especially singles one thing out from a group — “above all the others.” Specially says something was done for a particular purpose. There is real overlap, but a simple substitution test — does “particularly” fit? — will steer you to the right one almost every time.
At a Glance: Especially vs Specially
| Word | Part of Speech | Pronunciation | Core Meaning |
|---|
| especially |
adverb |
/ɪˈspeʃ(ə)li/ |
particularly; above all; to a notable degree |
| specially |
adverb |
/ˈspeʃ(ə)li/ |
for a specific purpose; in a special way |
Using “Especially”
Especially means “particularly” or “above all.” Use it to single out one item from a group, to give emphasis, or to mean “to a notably high degree.” It is the right word whenever you could substitute particularly.
When to use it
- Singling one thing out: I love sport, especially tennis
- Meaning “to a high degree”: it’s especially cold today
- Emphasis with “particularly” sense: be especially careful
- Before a noun phrase it highlights: everyone, especially the children
- Related word: special, especial (rare)
I enjoy all music, especially jazz.
It’s especially busy in the shop at weekends.
Drive carefully, especially in the rain.
She loves the mountains, especially in winter.
Everyone enjoyed the trip, especially the youngest children.
Using “Specially”
Specially means “for a specific purpose” or “in a special way.” Use it when something is done deliberately for one particular reason or person. It is the right word whenever you could say for a particular purpose or specifically.
When to use it
- Done for a particular purpose: made specially for the wedding
- For a specific person: I bought this specially for you
- Designed or built deliberately: specially designed tools
- Often before a past participle: specially trained, specially adapted
- Related word: special, specialise
This dress was made specially for the ceremony.
The room is specially equipped for wheelchair users.
I came in early specially to help you.
They built a ramp specially for the new resident.
The dog has been specially trained to detect smells.
The Key Difference
Try swapping in another word. If particularly or above all fits, use especially (I love fruit, especially mangoes = particularly mangoes). If for a specific purpose or specifically fits, use specially (made specially for you = made for that one purpose). Especially picks one out of many; specially explains the purpose behind an action.
Memory Tip
Especially = Extra emphasis, picking one out “above all.” Specially = done for a Specific purpose. If you’re highlighting one item from a group, reach for especially; if something was made or done on purpose for a reason, reach for specially.
Common Mistakes
I baked this cake especially for your birthday.
I baked this cake specially for your birthday. (done for a specific purpose is specially)
I like all vegetables, specially carrots.
I like all vegetables, especially carrots. (singling one out (= particularly) is especially)
These boots are especially designed for hiking.
These boots are specially designed for hiking. (designed for a specific purpose is specially)
It was specially kind of you to come.
It was especially kind of you to come. ('particularly kind' takes especially)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between especially and specially?
Especially means particularly or above all, and it singles one thing out from a group or adds emphasis: I love fruit, especially mangoes. Specially means for a specific purpose or deliberately for one reason: this cake was made specially for you. A quick test is to try replacing the word with particularly. If particularly fits, use especially; if you really mean for a particular purpose, use specially. The two overlap, but this test resolves most cases.
When should I use especially?
Use especially when you want to highlight one item above others, or when you mean particularly or to a high degree. For example, I enjoy all sports, especially football, singles out football, and it is especially cold today means particularly cold. A reliable check is substitution: if you can replace the word with particularly or above all and the sentence still makes sense, especially is the correct choice. It emphasises and singles out rather than explaining a purpose.
When should I use specially?
Use specially when something is done or made for a specific purpose or for a particular person. For example, this room is specially equipped for patients, or I came specially to see you. It often appears before past participles such as specially designed, specially trained, or specially adapted. A good check is to see whether you mean for a specific purpose or specifically; if so, specially is correct. It explains the deliberate reason behind an action rather than singling one item out.
Is 'especially for you' or 'specially for you' correct?
Both exist, but they differ slightly. Specially for you is the more traditional choice when something was made or done deliberately for that person: I baked this specially for you means for the purpose of giving it to you. Especially for you can also be heard and is increasingly common, treating you as singled out above others. In careful usage, if you mean done for the purpose of pleasing one person, specially for you is the precise option.
Can especially and specially be used interchangeably?
Sometimes, because they overlap and both come from special, and in casual speech people often swap them. However, in careful usage they are not fully interchangeable. Especially singles something out or means particularly, while specially means for a specific purpose. Using the wrong one rarely causes total confusion, but it can sound slightly off. The substitution test helps: particularly points to especially, and for a specific purpose points to specially, so you can keep them distinct when precision matters.
Does especially or specially go at the start of a sentence?
Especially can begin a sentence in informal writing, often as a shortened way of saying this is especially true, as in Especially in winter, the roads can be dangerous. In more formal writing, many people prefer to rephrase, for example This is especially true in winter. Specially rarely starts a sentence on its own, because it usually attaches to a verb or participle explaining purpose, as in specially designed. So especially is the more flexible of the two for sentence openings.
How do you pronounce especially and specially?
Especially is pronounced /ɪˈspeʃəli/, roughly ih-SPESH-uh-lee, with four syllables and a faint i sound at the start. Specially is pronounced /ˈspeʃəli/, roughly SPESH-uh-lee, with three syllables and no opening i sound. The main audible difference is that especially begins with a short ih before the spesh, while specially starts straight on spesh. Listening for that extra opening syllable can help you tell them apart in speech.
Is 'especial' a word?
Yes, especial is a real adjective meaning special or particular, as in of especial importance, but it is now quite rare and sounds formal or old-fashioned. In modern English, special does almost all the work as the adjective, while especially and specially handle the adverb roles. So you will rarely need especial; if you want the adjective, special is the natural choice. Knowing especial exists simply helps explain where especially comes from.
Which is more common, especially or specially?
Especially is much more common in everyday English, because the sense of particularly or above all comes up very often, as in especially good, especially difficult, or especially the children. Specially is less frequent and tends to appear in fixed patterns like specially designed, specially made, or specially trained. Because especially is so common, some speakers overuse it where specially would be more precise, which is one reason the substitution test is so handy for choosing correctly.
How can I remember which to use?
Link each word to a key idea. Especially starts with an e, like extra emphasis, and it singles one thing out above all, so use it when you mean particularly. Specially starts like specific, and it means done for a specific purpose, so use it when something is made or done deliberately for one reason. In short: especially for emphasis and particularly, specially for a specific purpose. The substitution test with particularly backs this up almost every time.
Practice Especially vs Specially
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