How to pronounce villainous
Say it like VIL-uh-nus. Villainous has three 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 villainous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VIL
- uh
- nus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Villainous 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.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of villainous
American and British speakers say villainous in essentially the same way: /ˈvɪlənəs/ in the US and /ˈvɪlənəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: VIL-uh-nus.
What does villainous mean?
- Of, relating to, or appropriate to a villain.
- Wicked, offensive, or reprehensible in nature or behavior; nefarious.
Where does villainous come from?
From Middle English vileinous, from Old French vileneus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying villainous
How do you pronounce villainous?
Say VIL-uh-nus. The American pronunciation is /ˈvɪlənəs/. In British English it is /ˈvɪlənəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in villainous?
Villainous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VIL). Broken into parts: VIL · uh · nus.
Do Americans and Brits say villainous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈvɪlənəs/ and the British form is /ˈvɪlənəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.