How to pronounce pilgrim
Say it like PIL-grum. Pilgrim has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pilgrim. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PIL
- grum
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pilgrim pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- grumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of pilgrim
American and British speakers say pilgrim in essentially the same way: /ˈpɪlɡrəm/ in the US and /ˈpɪlɡrɪm/ in the UK.
British respelling: PIL-grim.
What does pilgrim mean?
- Any traveler.
- An early American settler.
- A newcomer.
- To make a pilgrimage
Where does pilgrim come from?
The change of /r…r/ to /l…r/ is an effect of dissimilation in early Romance; compare Italian pellegrino.
Questions about saying pilgrim
How do you pronounce pilgrim?
Say PIL-grum. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɪlɡrəm/. In British English it is /ˈpɪlɡrɪm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pilgrim?
Pilgrim has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIL). Broken into parts: PIL · grum.
Do Americans and Brits say pilgrim the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpɪlɡrəm/ and the British form is /ˈpɪlɡrɪm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.