How to pronounce ill
Say it like IL. Ill is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- IL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ill pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of ill
American and British speakers say ill in essentially the same way: /ɪl/ in the US and /ɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: IL.
What does ill mean?
- Indicative of unkind or malevolent intentions; harsh, cruel.“He suffered from ill treatment.”
- Unpropitious, unkind, faulty, not up to reasonable standard.“ill manners; ill will”
- Unwell in terms of health or physical condition; sick.“mentally ill people”
- Not well; imperfectly, badly
- Trouble; distress; misfortune; adversity.“Music won't solve all the world's ills, but it can make them easier to bear.”
- Harm or injury.“I wouldn't want you to do me ill.”
- Evil; moral wrongfulness.
Where does ill come from?
Cognate with Scots and Yola ill, Danish ilde (“bad”), Faroese, Icelandic illur (“bad, ill, wicked”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk ille (“bad”), Swedish illa (“badly; poorly”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with ill
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ill.
Words that sound like ill
Questions about saying ill
How do you pronounce ill?
Say IL. The American pronunciation is /ɪl/. In British English it is /ɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ill?
Ill is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: IL.
Do Americans and Brits say ill the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪl/ and the British form is /ɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as ill?
Ill sounds the same as il in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.