How to pronounce "spill"

spill

Sports & Recreation
American
/spɪl/

Syllable Breakdown

spill

How natives say spill

British
/spɪl/

Syllable Breakdown

spill

How natives say spill

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 's' sound by placing the tip of your tongue near the alveolar ridge, allowing air to pass over the tongue.

  • Move to the 'p' sound by closing your lips and releasing them with a burst of air.

  • Finish with the 'ɪl' sound, pulling back the tongue slightly and making the 'l' sound with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth near the teeth.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding an extra vowel: 'spi-il'

  • Omitting the 'p' sound: 'sill'

  • Misplacing the 'l' sound: 'spil-la'

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 's' sound by placing the tip of your tongue near the alveolar ridge, allowing air to pass over the tongue.

  • Move to the 'p' sound by closing your lips and releasing them with a burst of air.

  • Finish with the 'ɪl' sound, pulling back the tongue slightly and making the 'l' sound with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth near the teeth.

common mistakes

  • Adding an extra vowel: 'spi-il'

  • Omitting the 'p' sound: 'sill'

  • Misplacing the 'l' sound: 'spil-la'

FAQ

Is the 's' pronounced softly?

Yes, it's a soft 's' sound.

How to avoid adding extra 'i' sound?

Keep your pronunciation short and direct from 'p' to 'l'.

Is there a difference between American and British pronunciation?

No, they are the same for this word.

Definition

spill

Accidentally causing liquid to flow over the edge of its container.

Word Family

spillage

/ˈspɪlɪdʒ/

noun

The act of spilling

Example: There was a spillage on the road.

spillover

/ˈspɪlˌoʊvər/

noun

When something spreads beyond its original area

Example: There was a spillover of music into the street.

spiller

/ˈspɪlər/

noun

A person who spills

Example: He is a frequent spiller of drinks.

Key Pronunciation Differences

Spillage has an extra syllable

- 'spil-lage'.

Spillover includes the 'oʊ' sound.

Spiller ends with the 'er' sound.

Pro Tips

Keep it Short

Focus on making the vowel sound as short as possible.

L Sound Practice

Ensure your tongue is near the roof of your mouth when pronouncing the 'l'.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Spill

adventure

/ədˈvɛntʃər/

amateur

/ˈæm.ə.tʃɚ/

appeal

/əˈpil/

appreciate

/əˈpriʃiˌeɪt/

athlete

/ˈæθ.liːt/

ball

/bɔl/

basin

/ˈbeɪ.sən/

basket

/ˈbæskɪt/

Other Categories

Test Your Pronunciation On Words Within Other Categories

adjoin

abroad

ability

agenda