How to Pronounce City

To pronounce "city", say CITY — one syllable, IPA /sɪtɪ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

city

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/sɪtɪ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “city”

"city" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with pretty and pity, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: citi — easy to mix up when writing.

What does city mean?

noun

  1. A large settlement, bigger than a town; sometimes with a specific legal definition, depending on the place.

    “São Paulo is the largest city in South America.”

  2. A settlement granted special status by royal charter or letters patent; traditionally, a settlement with a cathedral regardless of size.

Hear “city” 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 city

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

prettypitygrittydittybittiecommitteenittychittykittytittymutualitybitty

Related words

metropolisconurbationurbantownurbanizationmidtowndowntownvillage

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "city"?▾

"City" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "city"?▾

The IPA transcription of "city" is /sɪtɪ/.

What does "city" mean?▾

City: A large settlement, bigger than a town; sometimes with a specific legal definition, depending on the place.

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