Pronunciation Guide

Get it right

When it comes to representing the university well, correct pronunciation is nearly as important as correct factual details. There are several Illinois buildings and names that can be difficult to pronounce correctly by looking at spelling alone. Please use this guide to ensure you are representing the university correctly.

Words that are routinely mispronounced

BEVIER HALL
Buh-VEER

BIELFELDT ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
BEEL-feldt

BOUSFIELD HALL
BOWS-field (rhymes with “wows”)

BUSEY HALL
BYOO-see

CARLE ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
KARL, not CAR-lee

CHEZ FAMILY FOUNDATION CENTER FOR WOUNDED VETERANS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
CHEZ, not shay

COBLE HALL
Long “o” as in COH-bull, not CAHB-ul as in cobbler.

CHANUTE AIR FORCE BASE
Sha-NOOT

DELUCIA LABORATORY
Duh-LU-see-uh

DEMERJIAN GOLF PRATICE FACILITY
dee-MURR-jhan

FOELLINGER AUDITORIUM
FOAL-in-grrr (like a baby horse with a hard “g”)

GIES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Geese

HALLENE GATEWAY
Hal-EEN

HOLONYAK, NICK JR.
Hole-in-YOCK

ILLINI
Ill-LIE-nai

ILLINOIS
IL-li-noy
(no ‘s’ or ‘z’ sound at end)

KRANNERT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS/KRANNERT ART MUSEUM
KRAN-ert, not CRANE-ert

LEED PLATINUM RATING
lead with an “ee” sound, not led

LEVIS CENTER
Lev-ISS, not lee-vize as in the jeans.

MONTICELLO
MON-ti-SELL-oh

NOYES LABORATORY
Noise

SAUNDERS HALL
sawn-DERS

SIEBEL CENTER FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE
SEE-bel

TEMPLE HOYNE BUELL HALL
Hoyn (like “ahoy”) BYOU-ell

UBBEN BASKETBALL FACILITY
UBB-in

VERMILION
Ver-MIL-yuhn

WASSAJA HALL
WAHS-ah-ja

WOHLERS HALL
WHOH-lers

CARL R. WOESE INSTITUTE FOR GENOMIC BIOLOGY
Woes

Suggestions

Is there a word you think we should add to our pronunciation guide? Please email it to publicaffairs@illinois.edu.

Additional notes

One of the most important moments for correct pronunciation is when honoring a student, faculty member or donor. If there is a specific event coming up where an individual’s name will be said aloud, we encourage you to reach out to the department head or family of the individual to ensure accuracy.