How to Pronounce Silly

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

silly

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

/ˈsɪli/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “silly”

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

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

What does silly mean?

noun

  1. A silly person.
  2. A term of address.

adjective

  1. Laughable or amusing through foolishness or a foolish appearance.
  2. Blessed, particularly:

adverb

  1. Sillily: in a silly manner.

Synonyms

charming

Antonyms

pious

Hear “silly” 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 silly

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

involuntarilychillyreallywillydillychilefillyvillifrillybeleesmiliebilly

Related words

zanyridiculouswackyfrivolousgoofycockamamyempty-headedairheaded

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "silly"?▾

"Silly" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "silly"?▾

The IPA transcription of "silly" is /ˈsɪli/.

What does "silly" mean?▾

Silly: A silly person.

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