How to Pronounce Xylophone

To pronounce "xylophone", say XYLOPH-on-e — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈzaɪɫəˌfoʊn/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

xylophone

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/ˈzaɪɫəˌfoʊn/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/zˈaɪləfˌəʊn/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “xylophone”

Break "xylophone" into 3 beats and lean on "XYLOPH" — that's the stressed one. It rhymes with moan and groan, if that helps it stick.

What does xylophone mean?

noun

Any musical instrument (percussion idiophone) made of wooden slats graduated so as to make the sounds of the scale when struck with a small drumstick-like mallet; the standard Western concert xylophone or one of its derivatives.
“All I know how to play on my xylophone is "Mary Had a Little Lamb". Would you like to hear it?”

verb

To play a xylophone or to play something else as though it was a xylophone.
To move above a ridged surface so as to hit every ridge, in a manner similar to playing quickly and sequentially on a xylophone.

Hear “xylophone” 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 xylophone

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

moan groan drone bemoan cornerstone tone stone condone unknown cyclone atone baritone

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "xylophone"?▾

"Xylophone" has 3 syllables: xyloph · on · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "xylophone"?▾

The IPA transcription of "xylophone" is /ˈzaɪɫəˌfoʊn/.

What does "xylophone" mean?▾

Xylophone: Any musical instrument (percussion idiophone) made of wooden slats graduated so as to make the sounds of the scale when struck with a small drumstick-like mallet; the standard Western concert xylophone or one of its derivatives.

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