How to pronounce basilica
Say it like buh-SIL-ih-kuh. Basilica has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce basilica. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- buh
- SIL
- ih
- kuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Basilica pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- SILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of basilica
American and British speakers say basilica in essentially the same way: /bəˈsɪlɪkə/ in the US and /bəˈsɪlɪkə/ in the UK.
British respelling: buh-SIL-ih-kuh.
What does basilica mean?
- A Christian church building having a nave with a semicircular apse, side aisles, a narthex and a clerestory.
- A Roman Catholic church or cathedral with basilican status, an honorific status granted by the pope to recognize its historical, architectural, or sacramental importance.
Questions about saying basilica
How do you pronounce basilica?
Say buh-SIL-ih-kuh. The American pronunciation is /bəˈsɪlɪkə/. In British English it is /bəˈsɪlɪkə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in basilica?
Basilica has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SIL). Broken into parts: buh · SIL · ih · kuh.
Do Americans and Brits say basilica the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bəˈsɪlɪkə/ and the British form is /bəˈsɪlɪkə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.