How to pronounce chilly
Say it like CHIL-ee. Chilly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce chilly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- CHIL
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Chilly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of chilly
American and British speakers say chilly in essentially the same way: /ˈtʃɪli/ in the US and /ˈtʃɪli/ in the UK.
British respelling: CHIL-ee.
What does chilly mean?
- not characterized by emotion“a female form in marble--a chilly but ideal medium for depicting abstract virtues”
- appreciably or disagreeably cold
- lacking warmth of feeling“a chilly greeting”
- very hot and finely tapering pepper of special pungency
Where does chilly come from?
From chill + -y. Cognate with Swedish kylig (“chilly”), Norwegian kjølig (“chilly”).
Words that rhyme with chilly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of chilly.
Words that sound like chilly
Questions about saying chilly
How do you pronounce chilly?
Say CHIL-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈtʃɪli/. In British English it is /ˈtʃɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in chilly?
Chilly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHIL). Broken into parts: CHIL · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say chilly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtʃɪli/ and the British form is /ˈtʃɪli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as chilly?
Chilly sounds the same as chile, chili in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.