How to pronounce pillow
Say it like PIL-oh. Pillow 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 pillow. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PIL
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pillow 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.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of pillow
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: PIL-oh.
What does pillow mean?
- a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
- rest on or as if on a pillow“pillow your head”
Where does pillow come from?
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Peel (“pillow”), Alemannic German Pfulme (“pillow”), Dutch peluw (“a long, narrow pillow”), German Pfühl (“a big and soft pillow”), German Low German Pöhl (“pad, pillow, cushion”).
Words that rhyme with pillow
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pillow.
Questions about saying pillow
How do you pronounce pillow?
Say PIL-oh. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɪloʊ/. In British English it is /ˈpɪləʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pillow?
Pillow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIL). Broken into parts: PIL · oh.
Is pillow pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈpɪləʊ/ (PIL-oh).