How to Pronounce Billion

To pronounce "billion", say BILL-ion — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈbɪljən/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

billion

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Accent

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Speed

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2

Syllables

7

Letters

/ˈbɪljən/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “billion”

"billion" has 2 syllables: bill-ion. It rhymes with pavilion and vermilion, if that helps it stick.

What does billion mean?

noun

  1. (modern British & Australian, short scale) a thousand million (logic: 1,000 × 1,000^2): 1 followed by nine zeros, 109; a milliard
  2. (British & Australian, long scale) A million million (logic: 1,000,000^2): a 1 followed by twelve zeros; 1012

Synonyms

trillionmilliardthousand million

Hear “billion” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with billion

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

pavilionvermilionvermillionpavillioncivilianreptilianvaudevillianpillioncrocodiliantrillionzillionoctillion

Related words

cardinalpercentzillionmcmmln

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "billion"?▾

"Billion" has 2 syllables: bill · ion.

What is the IPA transcription of "billion"?▾

The IPA transcription of "billion" is /ˈbɪljən/.

What does "billion" mean?▾

Billion: (modern British & Australian, short scale) a thousand million (logic: 1,000 × 1,000^2): 1 followed by nine zeros, 109; a milliard

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