How to pronounce council
Say it like KOWN-sul. Council has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOWN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce council. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOWN
- sul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Council pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOWNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- sulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of council
American and British speakers say council in essentially the same way: /ˈkaʊnsəl/ in the US and /ˈkaʊnsəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: KOWN-sul.
What does council mean?
- a body serving in an administrative capacity“student council”
- (Christianity) an assembly of theologians and bishops and other representatives of different churches or dioceses that is convened to regulate matters of discipline or doctrine
- a meeting of people for consultation“emergency council”
Where does council come from?
Inherited from Middle English counseil (“meeting, conference, commune”), from Old French conseil (“advice, deliberation, thought”), from Latin cōnsilium (“plan, intention, design, purpose”), from cōnsulō (“consult, seek counsel from, take c
Words that rhyme with council
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of council.
Words that sound like council
Questions about saying council
How do you pronounce council?
Say KOWN-sul. The American pronunciation is /ˈkaʊnsəl/. In British English it is /ˈkaʊnsəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in council?
Council has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOWN). Broken into parts: KOWN · sul.
Do Americans and Brits say council the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkaʊnsəl/ and the British form is /ˈkaʊnsəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as council?
Council sounds the same as counsel in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.