How to pronounce villanelle
Say it like vih-luh-NEL. Villanelle has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce villanelle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- vih
- luh
- NEL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Villanelle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- vihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- luhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of villanelle
American and British speakers say villanelle in essentially the same way: /vɪləˈnɛl/ in the US and /vɪləˈnɛl/ in the UK.
British respelling: vih-luh-NEL.
What does villanelle mean?
- A type of poem, consisting of five tercets and one quatrain, with only two rhymes.
Where does villanelle come from?
From the French villanelle, from Italian villanella, from villano (“peasant”), from Latin vīllānus (“farmhand”), from vīlla (“estate”).
Words that rhyme with villanelle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of villanelle.
Questions about saying villanelle
How do you pronounce villanelle?
Say vih-luh-NEL. The American pronunciation is /vɪləˈnɛl/. In British English it is /vɪləˈnɛl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in villanelle?
Villanelle has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NEL). Broken into parts: vih · luh · NEL.
Do Americans and Brits say villanelle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /vɪləˈnɛl/ and the British form is /vɪləˈnɛl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.