How to pronounce silicone
Say it like SIL-uh-kohn. Silicone has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce silicone. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIL
- uh
- kohn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Silicone pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- kohnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of silicone
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SIL-uh-kohn.
What does silicone mean?
- Any of a class of inert, semi-inorganic polymeric compounds (polysiloxanes), that have a wide range of thermal stability and extreme water repellence, used in a very wide range of industrial applications, and in prosthetic replacements for body parts.
- To join or treat (something) with a silicone-based product.“silicone the bathtub to the tile”
- To enhance or reconstruct (a body part) with a prosthesis containing silicone.
- Having had cosmetic surgery, especially breast enlargement.
Where does silicone come from?
From silicon + -one. Originally obtained by the attempted synthesis of the silicon equivalent of a ketone.
Questions about saying silicone
How do you pronounce silicone?
Say SIL-uh-kohn. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪləˌkoʊn/. In British English it is /ˈsɪləˌkəʊn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in silicone?
Silicone has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIL). Broken into parts: SIL · uh · kohn.
Is silicone 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 /ˈsɪləˌkəʊn/ (SIL-uh-kohn).