How to pronounce exile
Say it like EG-zyle. Exile has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce exile. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EG
- zyle
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Exile pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- zyleGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of exile
American and British speakers say exile in essentially the same way: /ˈɛɡˌzaɪl/ in the US and /ˈɛɡzaɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: EG-zyle.
What does exile mean?
- expel from a country“The poet was exiled because he signed a letter protesting the government's actions”
- a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country“American expatriates”
- a person who is expelled from home or country by authority
- the act of expelling a person from their native land“men in exile dream of hope”“his deportation to a penal colony”
Where does exile come from?
From Middle English exil, borrowed from Old French essil, exil, from Latin exsilium, exilium (“state of exile”), derived from exsul, exul (“exiled person”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying exile
How do you pronounce exile?
Say EG-zyle. The American pronunciation is /ˈɛɡˌzaɪl/. In British English it is /ˈɛɡzaɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in exile?
Exile has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EG). Broken into parts: EG · zyle.
Do Americans and Brits say exile the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɛɡˌzaɪl/ and the British form is /ˈɛɡzaɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.