How to pronounce villain
Say it like VIL-un. Villain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce villain. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VIL
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Villain pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- VILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of villain
American and British speakers say villain in essentially the same way: /ˈvɪlən/ in the US and /ˈvɪlən/ in the UK.
British respelling: VIL-un.
What does villain mean?
- a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
- the principal bad character in a film or work of fiction
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with villain
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of villain.
Questions about saying villain
How do you pronounce villain?
Say VIL-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈvɪlən/. In British English it is /ˈvɪlən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in villain?
Villain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VIL). Broken into parts: VIL · un.
Do Americans and Brits say villain the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈvɪlən/ and the British form is /ˈvɪlən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.