How to pronounce illicit
Say it like il-IS-ut. Illicit has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (IS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce illicit. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- il
- IS
- ut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Illicit pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ilGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- utKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of illicit
American and British speakers say illicit in essentially the same way: /ˌɪˈlɪsət/ in the US and /ɪˈlɪsɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: ih-LIS-it.
What does illicit mean?
- Not approved by law, but not invalid.“The bigamous marriage, while illicit, was not invalid.”
- Breaking social norms.
- Unlawful.
- A banned or unlawful item.
Where does illicit come from?
Borrowed from French illicite, from Latin illicitus, from in- (“not”) + licitus (“allowed, permitted”), from licet (“it is allowed”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with illicit
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of illicit.
Questions about saying illicit
How do you pronounce illicit?
Say il-IS-ut. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪˈlɪsət/. In British English it is /ɪˈlɪsɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in illicit?
Illicit has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (IS). Broken into parts: il · IS · ut.
Do Americans and Brits say illicit the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪˈlɪsət/ and the British form is /ɪˈlɪsɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.