How to pronounce civil
Say it like SIV-ul. Civil has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce civil. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIV
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Civil pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SIVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of civil
American and British speakers say civil in essentially the same way: /ˈsɪvəl/ in the US and /ˈsɪvəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: SIV-ul.
What does civil mean?
- applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military“civil authorities”
- not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages and sufficient but not noteworthy consideration for others“even if he didn't like them he should have been civil”
- of or occurring within the state or between or among citizens of the state“civil affairs”“civil strife”
Where does civil come from?
(polite): Compare typologically urbane (<< Latin urbs), courteous (akin to court).
Words that rhyme with civil
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of civil.
Questions about saying civil
How do you pronounce civil?
Say SIV-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪvəl/. In British English it is /ˈsɪvəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in civil?
Civil has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIV). Broken into parts: SIV · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say civil the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɪvəl/ and the British form is /ˈsɪvəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.