How to pronounce halcyon
Say it like HAL-see-un. Halcyon has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce halcyon. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAL
- see
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Halcyon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- seeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of halcyon
American and British speakers say halcyon in essentially the same way: /ˈhælsiən/ in the US and /ˈhælsiən/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAL-see-un.
What does halcyon mean?
- A kingfisher whose nesting by the sea was said, in classical mythology, to cause the Gods to restrain the wind and waves.
- The dead body of such a bird, said in Tudor times to act as a weather vane when hung from a beam.
- A tropical kingfisher of the genus Halcyon, such as the sacred kingfisher (Halcyon sancta) of Australia.
- Pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.
- Calm, undisturbed, peaceful, serene.
Questions about saying halcyon
How do you pronounce halcyon?
Say HAL-see-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈhælsiən/. In British English it is /ˈhælsiən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in halcyon?
Halcyon has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAL). Broken into parts: HAL · see · un.
Do Americans and Brits say halcyon the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhælsiən/ and the British form is /ˈhælsiən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.