How to pronounce city
Say it like SIT-ee. City has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce city. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIT
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
City pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SITSay 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 city
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: SIT-ee.
What does city mean?
- a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts“Ancient Troy was a great city”
- an incorporated administrative district established by state charter“the city raised the tax rate”
- people living in a large densely populated municipality“the city voted for Republicans in 1994”
Where does city come from?
Inherited from Middle English cite, derived from Old French cite, derived from Late Latin cīvitātem (“city”), in Classical Latin "citizenry", derived from cīvis (“fellow-citizen”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱey- (“lie down; settle”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with city
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of city.
Questions about saying city
How do you pronounce city?
Say SIT-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪti/. In British English it is /ˈsɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in city?
City has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIT). Broken into parts: SIT · ee.
Is city pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈsɪti/ (SIT-ee).