How to pronounce cell
Say it like SEL. Cell is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cell. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cell pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of cell
American and British speakers say cell in essentially the same way: /sɛl/ in the US and /sɛl/ in the UK.
British respelling: SEL.
What does cell mean?
- any small compartment“the cells of a honeycomb”
- (biology) the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; they may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals
- a device that delivers an electric current as the result of a chemical reaction
Where does cell come from?
From Middle English celle, selle, from Old English cell (attested in inflected forms), from Latin cella (“chamber, small room, compartment”), later reinforced by Old French cel, sele, Old French cele.
Words that rhyme with cell
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cell.
Words that sound like cell
Questions about saying cell
How do you pronounce cell?
Say SEL. The American pronunciation is /sɛl/. In British English it is /sɛl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cell?
Cell is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SEL.
Do Americans and Brits say cell the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /sɛl/ and the British form is /sɛl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as cell?
Cell sounds the same as sell in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.