How to pronounce billion
Say it like BIL-yun. Billion has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce billion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BIL
- yun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Billion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- yunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of billion
American and British speakers say billion in essentially the same way: /ˈbɪljən/ in the US and /ˈbɪljən/ in the UK.
British respelling: BIL-yun.
What does billion mean?
- the number that is represented as a one followed by 12 zeros; in the United Kingdom the usage followed in the United States is frequently seen
- a very large indefinite number (usually hyperbole)“there were millions of flies”
- the number that is represented as a one followed by 9 zeros
- denoting a quantity consisting of one thousand million items or units in the United States
- denoting a quantity consisting of one million million items or units in Great Britain
Where does billion come from?
From French billion, equivalent to bi- (“two”) + -illion.
Words that rhyme with billion
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of billion.
Questions about saying billion
How do you pronounce billion?
Say BIL-yun. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɪljən/. In British English it is /ˈbɪljən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in billion?
Billion has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BIL). Broken into parts: BIL · yun.
Do Americans and Brits say billion the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbɪljən/ and the British form is /ˈbɪljən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.