How to pronounce hooligan
Say it like HOO-lih-gun. Hooligan has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hooligan. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOO
- lih
- gun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hooligan pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- lihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- gunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of hooligan
American and British speakers say hooligan in essentially the same way: /ˈhulɪɡən/ in the US and /ˈhuːlɪɡən/ in the UK.
British respelling: HOO-lih-gun.
What does hooligan mean?
- A young person who causes trouble or violence, typically as a member of a gang or other group.
- A member of the United States Coast Guard.
- A type of fish, an anadromous smelt, Thaleichthys pacificus, found in the North Pacific.
- To act as a hooligan (etymology 1, noun sense 1).
- To treat (a person) roughly.
Where does hooligan come from?
Probably a variant of the Irish surname Houlihan, 1890s.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying hooligan
How do you pronounce hooligan?
Say HOO-lih-gun. The American pronunciation is /ˈhulɪɡən/. In British English it is /ˈhuːlɪɡən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hooligan?
Hooligan has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOO). Broken into parts: HOO · lih · gun.
Do Americans and Brits say hooligan the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhulɪɡən/ and the British form is /ˈhuːlɪɡən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.