How to pronounce guerrilla
Say it like guh-RIL-uh. Guerrilla has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce guerrilla. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- guh
- RIL
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Guerrilla pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- guhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of guerrilla
American and British speakers say guerrilla in essentially the same way: /ɡəˈrɪlə/ in the US and /ɡəˈrɪlə/ in the UK.
British respelling: guh-RIL-uh.
What does guerrilla mean?
- A soldier in a small independent group, fighting against the government or regular forces by surprise raids.“The right-wing paramilitary's offensive against the Marxist guerrillas failed because they did not know the terrain well enough.”
- A marketer who uses guerrilla marketing techniques.
- A maker of guerrilla television.
- Relating to, using, or typical of guerrilla warfare, or its principles of small independent or non-official perpetrators.
- Relating to, using, or typical of guerrilla marketing.
- Using unconventional, non-traditional, non-mainstream and often subversive practices to achieve something.“guerrilla marketing”
Where does guerrilla come from?
Borrowed from Spanish guerrilla, diminutive of guerra (“war”), coined during the Peninsular War.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with guerrilla
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of guerrilla.
Words that sound like guerrilla
Questions about saying guerrilla
How do you pronounce guerrilla?
Say guh-RIL-uh. The American pronunciation is /ɡəˈrɪlə/. In British English it is /ɡəˈrɪlə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in guerrilla?
Guerrilla has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RIL). Broken into parts: guh · RIL · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say guerrilla the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɡəˈrɪlə/ and the British form is /ɡəˈrɪlə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as guerrilla?
Guerrilla sounds the same as gorilla, guerilla in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.