How to pronounce hillbilly
Say it like HIL-bih-lee. Hillbilly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hillbilly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HIL
- bih
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hillbilly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- bihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of hillbilly
American and British speakers say hillbilly in essentially the same way: /ˈhɪlbɪli/ in the US and /ˈhɪlbɪli/ in the UK.
British respelling: HIL-bih-lee.
What does hillbilly mean?
- To emphasize one's rural or humble upbringing; to use unsophisticated charm.
- To portray or act as an uneducated and unsophisticated fool.
- To perform or experience stereotypically hillbilly-like actions.
Where does hillbilly come from?
From hill + billy (“fellow”).
Questions about saying hillbilly
How do you pronounce hillbilly?
Say HIL-bih-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɪlbɪli/. In British English it is /ˈhɪlbɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hillbilly?
Hillbilly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HIL). Broken into parts: HIL · bih · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say hillbilly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhɪlbɪli/ and the British form is /ˈhɪlbɪli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.