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?

Question

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?

Answer

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.

Answer

Yes you heard wrongly.
It's mil-lion, bil-lion.
The "y" you hear could have come from the "i" in "lion".

Answers · 2