Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pillion

/ˈpɪljən/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.12 in modern English

Syllables
pill-ion
IPA
/ˈpɪljən/
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A pad behind the saddle of a horse for a second rider.

noun

The person riding in the pillion.

noun

The cushion of a saddle.

adv

Riding behind the driving rider, as when positioned on the rump of a mount.

verb

To place (a person) on a pillion.

Transitive verb

verb

To ride on a pillion.

Intransitive verb

verb

To put a pillion on a horse.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Scottish Gaelic pillean (“little rug”), from Latin pellis (“animal skin, pelt”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: pillean, pellis

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce pillion?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpɪljən/.
What does pillion mean?
A pad behind the saddle of a horse for a second rider.
Where does pillion come from?
It is traced to Scottish Gaelic.

How to pronounce pillion

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pillion”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpɪljən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pillion”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “pillion” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.