How to pronounce cilium
Say it like SIL-ee-um. Cilium has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cilium. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIL
- ee
- um
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cilium pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SILSay 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.
- umKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of cilium
American and British speakers say cilium in essentially the same way: /ˈsɪliəm/ in the US and /ˈsɪliəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: SIL-ee-um.
What does cilium mean?
- A short microscopic hairlike organelle projecting from a eukaryotic cell (such as a unicellular organism or one cell of a multicelled organism) which serve either for propulsion by causing currents in the surrounding fluid or as sensors.
- One of the fine hairs along an insect's wing.
- One of the hairs or similar protrusions along the margin of an organ.
Where does cilium come from?
Borrowed from Latin cilium (“eyelid”).
Words that rhyme with cilium
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cilium.
Questions about saying cilium
How do you pronounce cilium?
Say SIL-ee-um. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪliəm/. In British English it is /ˈsɪliəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cilium?
Cilium has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIL). Broken into parts: SIL · ee · um.
Do Americans and Brits say cilium the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɪliəm/ and the British form is /ˈsɪliəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.