How to pronounce supercilious
Say it like soo-per-SIL-ee-us. Supercilious has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce supercilious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- soo
- per
- SIL
- ee
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Supercilious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- sooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- perKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- 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.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of supercilious
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: soo-puh-SIL-ee-us.
What does supercilious mean?
- Arrogantly superior; showing contemptuous indifference; haughty.
Where does supercilious come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin superciliōsus (“haughty”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying supercilious
How do you pronounce supercilious?
Say soo-per-SIL-ee-us. The American pronunciation is /ˌsupɚˈsɪliəs/. In British English it is /ˌsuːpəˈsɪliəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in supercilious?
Supercilious has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SIL). Broken into parts: soo · per · SIL · ee · us.
Is supercilious pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌsuːpəˈsɪliəs/ (soo-puh-SIL-ee-us).