How to pronounce pile
Say it like PYLE. Pile 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 pile. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PYLE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pile pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PYLESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of pile
American and British speakers say pile in essentially the same way: /paɪl/ in the US and /paɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: PYLE.
What does pile mean?
- a collection of objects laid on top of each other
- (often followed by of) a large number or amount or extent“a batch of letters”“a deal of trouble”
- a large sum of money (especially as pay or profit)“she made a bundle selling real estate”“they sank megabucks into their new house”
- arrange in stacks“heap firewood around the fireplace”“stack your books up on the shelves”
- press tightly together or cram“The crowd packed the auditorium”
- place or lay as if in a pile“The teacher piled work on the students until the parents protested”
Where does pile come from?
From Middle English pyle, from Old French pile, from Latin pīla (“pillar, pier”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pile
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pile.
Questions about saying pile
How do you pronounce pile?
Say PYLE. The American pronunciation is /paɪl/. In British English it is /paɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pile?
Pile is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PYLE.
Do Americans and Brits say pile the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /paɪl/ and the British form is /paɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.