To pronounce "civil", say CIV-il — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈsɪv.əl/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.
civil
Tap to hear · American accent
Accent
If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.
Speed
Syllable by syllable — tap each one
Record yourself saying civil, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.
2
Syllables
5
Letters
/ˈsɪv.əl/
IPA
"civil" has 2 syllables: civ-il. It rhymes with drivel and swivel, if that helps it stick.
adjective
“She went into civil service because she wanted to help the people.”
“It was very civil of him to stop the argument.”
Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.
"Civil" has 2 syllables: civ · il.
The IPA transcription of "civil" is /ˈsɪv.əl/.
Civil: Having to do with people and government office as opposed to the military or religion.
Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?
Open “civil” in the full dictionary →