How to pronounce trillion
Say it like TRIL-yun. Trillion has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TRIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce trillion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TRIL
- yun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Trillion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TRILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- yunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of trillion
American and British speakers say trillion in essentially the same way: /ˈtrɪljən/ in the US and /ˈtrɪljən/ in the UK.
British respelling: TRIL-yun.
What does trillion mean?
- a very large indefinite number (usually hyperbole)“there were millions of flies”
- the number that is represented as a one followed by 18 zeros“in England they call a quintillion a trillion”
- the number that is represented as a one followed by 12 zeros“in England they call a trillion a billion”
- one quintillion in Great Britain
- one million million in the United States
Where does trillion come from?
The noun was coined by American basketball player Harvey Pollack, because of the way the numbers read across a basketball box score.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with trillion
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of trillion.
Questions about saying trillion
How do you pronounce trillion?
Say TRIL-yun. The American pronunciation is /ˈtrɪljən/. In British English it is /ˈtrɪljən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in trillion?
Trillion has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TRIL). Broken into parts: TRIL · yun.
Do Americans and Brits say trillion the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtrɪljən/ and the British form is /ˈtrɪljən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.