How to pronounce civilised
Say it like SIV-ih-lyzd. Civilised has three 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 civilised. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIV
- ih
- lyzd
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Civilised 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.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- lyzdKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of civilised
American and British speakers say civilised in essentially the same way: /ˈsɪvɪlaɪzd/ in the US and /ˈsɪvɪlaɪzd/ in the UK.
British respelling: SIV-ih-lyzd.
What does civilised mean?
- simple past and past participle of civilize How to pronounce civilise
- Non-Oxford British English spelling of civilized.
Questions about saying civilised
How do you pronounce civilised?
Say SIV-ih-lyzd. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪvɪlaɪzd/. In British English it is /ˈsɪvɪlaɪzd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in civilised?
Civilised has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIV). Broken into parts: SIV · ih · lyzd.
Do Americans and Brits say civilised the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɪvɪlaɪzd/ and the British form is /ˈsɪvɪlaɪzd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.