How to pronounce nil
Say it like NIL. Nil is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nil. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NIL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nil pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of nil
American and British speakers say nil in essentially the same way: /nɪl/ in the US and /nɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: NIL.
What does nil mean?
- Nothing; zero.
- A score of zero“The football match ended in a nil-nil draw.”
- No, not any.
Where does nil come from?
nihilism, nihility.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with nil
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nil.
Questions about saying nil
How do you pronounce nil?
Say NIL. The American pronunciation is /nɪl/. In British English it is /nɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nil?
Nil is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NIL.
Do Americans and Brits say nil the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /nɪl/ and the British form is /nɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.