How to pronounce simile
Say it like SIM-uh-lee. Simile has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce simile. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIM
- uh
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Simile pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SIMSay 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.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of simile
American and British speakers say simile in essentially the same way: /ˈsɪməli/ in the US and /ˈsɪməli/ in the UK.
British respelling: SIM-uh-lee.
What does simile mean?
- A figure of speech in which one thing is explicitly compared to another, using e.g. like or as.
- Similarity or resemblance to something else; likeness, similitude.
- Something similar that's not a clone.
Where does simile come from?
From Latin simile (“comparison, likeness, parallel”) (first attested 1393), originally from simile, neuter form of similis (“like, similar, resembling”).
Questions about saying simile
How do you pronounce simile?
Say SIM-uh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪməli/. In British English it is /ˈsɪməli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in simile?
Simile has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIM). Broken into parts: SIM · uh · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say simile the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɪməli/ and the British form is /ˈsɪməli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.