How to pronounce Illinois
Say it like il-uh-NOY. Illinois has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NOY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Illinois. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- il
- uh
- NOY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Illinois 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.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NOYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of Illinois
American and British speakers say Illinois in essentially the same way: /ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/ in the US and /ˌɪlɪˈnɔɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: il-ih-NOY.
What does Illinois mean?
- A state of the United States, named for the people.
- A confederation of Algonquian tribes who lived in the Mississippi River Valley.
- A river in the United States that flows from Grundy County, Illinois, into the Mississippi River.
Where does Illinois come from?
From French Illinois, an adaptation of an Algonquian (perhaps Ojibwe) name derived from Miami ilenweewa (“he speaks the regular way”).
Words that rhyme with Illinois
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Illinois.
Questions about saying Illinois
How do you pronounce Illinois?
Say il-uh-NOY. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/. In British English it is /ˌɪlɪˈnɔɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Illinois?
Illinois has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NOY). Broken into parts: il · uh · NOY.
Do Americans and Brits say Illinois the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/ and the British form is /ˌɪlɪˈnɔɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.