How to pronounce icicle
Say it like EYE-sih-kul. Icicle has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EYE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce icicle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EYE
- sih
- kul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Icicle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EYESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- sihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- kulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of icicle
American and British speakers say icicle in essentially the same way: /ˈaɪsɪkəl/ in the US and /ˈaɪsɪkəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: EYE-sih-kul.
What does icicle mean?
- A drooping, tapering shape of ice.
Where does icicle come from?
From Middle English isykle, isikel, from Old English *īsġicel, from Proto-West Germanic *īsajikil, *īsajekul, equivalent to ice + ickle.
Words that rhyme with icicle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of icicle.
Questions about saying icicle
How do you pronounce icicle?
Say EYE-sih-kul. The American pronunciation is /ˈaɪsɪkəl/. In British English it is /ˈaɪsɪkəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in icicle?
Icicle has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EYE). Broken into parts: EYE · sih · kul.
Do Americans and Brits say icicle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈaɪsɪkəl/ and the British form is /ˈaɪsɪkəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.