How to pronounce cotillion
Say it like koh-tih-LYO. Cotillion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LYO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cotillion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- koh
- tih
- LYO
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cotillion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- tihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- LYOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of cotillion
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: koh-tih-LYO.
What does cotillion mean?
- A bold dance performed in groups of eight where women lift their skirts to display their ankles.
- The music regulating the cotillion.
- A kind of woollen material for women's skirts.
- To dance the cotillion.
Where does cotillion come from?
First use appears c. 1750, in the sense of the dance, from French cotillon (“petticoat”), extended to the dance because of the distinctive lift of dress revealing the petticoat, from cotte (“dress”) + -illon (diminutive).
Words that rhyme with cotillion
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cotillion.
Questions about saying cotillion
How do you pronounce cotillion?
Say koh-tih-LYO. The American pronunciation is /koʊtɪˈljɑ/. In British English it is /kəʊtɪˈljɒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cotillion?
Cotillion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LYO). Broken into parts: koh · tih · LYO.
Is cotillion pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /kəʊtɪˈljɒ/ (koh-tih-LYO).