How to pronounce billow
Say it like BIL-oh. Billow 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 billow. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BIL
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Billow 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.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of billow
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BIL-oh.
What does billow mean?
- To surge or roll in billows.
- To swell out or bulge.
- A large wave, swell, surge, or undulating mass of something, such as water, smoke, fabric or sound.
Where does billow come from?
Cognates include Danish bølge (“wave”); Norwegian Bokmål bølge (“wave”), Norwegian Nynorsk bylgje (“wave”); Swedish bölja (“wave”); German Low German Bulge, Bulg, Bülg (“billow, wave”); German Bulge (“billow, wave”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with billow
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of billow.
Words that sound like billow
Questions about saying billow
How do you pronounce billow?
Say BIL-oh. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɪloʊ/. In British English it is /ˈbɪləʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in billow?
Billow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BIL). Broken into parts: BIL · oh.
Is billow pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈbɪləʊ/ (BIL-oh).
What words sound the same as billow?
Billow sounds the same as below in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.