How to pronounce silly
Say it like SIL-ee. Silly has two 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 silly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIL
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Silly 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.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of silly
American and British speakers say silly in essentially the same way: /ˈsɪli/ in the US and /ˈsɪli/ in the UK.
British respelling: SIL-ee.
What does silly mean?
- ludicrous, foolish“wore a goofy hat”“a silly idea”
- lacking seriousness; given to frivolity“a dizzy blonde”“light-headed teenagers”
- inspiring scornful pity“how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years”
- a word used for misbehaving children“don't be a silly”
Where does silly come from?
The semantic evolution is “lucky” to “innocent” to “naive” to “foolish”.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with silly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of silly.
Questions about saying silly
How do you pronounce silly?
Say SIL-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪli/. In British English it is /ˈsɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in silly?
Silly has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIL). Broken into parts: SIL · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say silly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɪli/ and the British form is /ˈsɪli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.