How to pronounce zilch
Say it like ZILCH. Zilch is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce zilch. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ZILCH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Zilch pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ZILCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of zilch
American and British speakers say zilch in essentially the same way: /zɪltʃ/ in the US and /zɪltʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: ZILCH.
What does zilch mean?
- Nothing, zero.“Her search for decent home-made winter clothes came up with zilch, so she had to get imported stuff.”
- No, zero, non-existent.
- To cause to score nothing, to thoroughly defeat.
Where does zilch come from?
Probably from Joe Zilch, a placeholder name (compare John Doe) used by Nunnally Johnson in his column in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 1923; in turn from Joe Zilch, an unseen character referenced in comedian Frank Tinney's stage routine.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with zilch
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of zilch.
Questions about saying zilch
How do you pronounce zilch?
Say ZILCH. The American pronunciation is /zɪltʃ/. In British English it is /zɪltʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in zilch?
Zilch is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: ZILCH.
Do Americans and Brits say zilch the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /zɪltʃ/ and the British form is /zɪltʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.