How to pronounce cicada
Say it like sih-KAY-duh. Cicada has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cicada. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sih
- KAY
- duh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cicada pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- sihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- KAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- duhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of cicada
American and British speakers say cicada in essentially the same way: /sɪˈkeɪdə/ in the US and /sɪˈkeɪdə/ in the UK.
British respelling: sih-KAY-duh.
What does cicada mean?
- Any of several insects in the superfamily Cicadoidea, with small eyes wide apart on the head and transparent well-veined wings.
- The periodical cicada.
Where does cicada come from?
Borrowed from Latin cicāda, ultimately onomatopoeic.
Questions about saying cicada
How do you pronounce cicada?
Say sih-KAY-duh. The American pronunciation is /sɪˈkeɪdə/. In British English it is /sɪˈkeɪdə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cicada?
Cicada has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAY). Broken into parts: sih · KAY · duh.
Do Americans and Brits say cicada the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /sɪˈkeɪdə/ and the British form is /sɪˈkeɪdə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.