How to pronounce alien
Say it like AY-lee-un. Alien has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce alien. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AY
- lee
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Alien pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of alien
- American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2.
British respelling: AY-leern.
What does alien mean?
- not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something“an economic theory alien to the spirit of capitalism”“the mysticism so foreign to the French mind and temper”
- being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world“alien customs”“exotic plants in a greenhouse”
- a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country
- anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
- a form of life assumed to exist outside the Earth or its atmosphere
- transfer property or ownership“The will aliened the property to the heirs”
Where does alien come from?
From Middle English alien, a borrowing from Old French alien, aliene, from Latin aliēnus (“belonging to someone else”, later “exotic, foreign”), from Latin alius (“other”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with alien
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of alien.
Questions about saying alien
How do you pronounce alien?
Say AY-lee-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈeɪliən/. In British English it is /ˈeɪlɪən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in alien?
Alien has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AY). Broken into parts: AY · lee · un.
Is alien pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2. The British form is /ˈeɪlɪən/ (AY-leern).