Andrea
How do you pronounce the double "L" syllable? Like the word "million","billion". I used to pronounce it as "L" in "law". But I often hear the news reporters pronouce it as "Y" in "yes". Like "milyion","bilyion". Did I hear it wrong?
Aug 10, 2010 11:04 AM
Answers · 2
1
Yes, there is a 'y' sound in there. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billion gives this as the phonetic spelling: \ˈbi(l)-yən\ On that site you can also click to hear the pronunciation.
August 10, 2010
Yes you heard wrongly. It's mil-lion, bil-lion. The "y" you hear could have come from the "i" in "lion".
August 10, 2010
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