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.
Native Tribes
The university has a Land Acknowledgment Statement, a formal statement expressing gratitude and appreciation to the Native peoples on whose territory we reside. There is a pronunciation guide for the Native tribes on the Chancellor’s website.
Personal Names
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.
B
Bevier Hall
Buh-VEER
Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building
BEEL-feldt
Bousfield Hall
BOWS-field (rhymes with “wows”)
Busey Hall
BYOO-see
C
Carle Illinois College of Medicine
KARL, not CAR-lee
Chez Veteran Center
CHEZ, not shay
Coble Hall
Long “o” as in COH-bull, not CAHB-ul as in cobbler.
D
Delucia Laboratory
Duh-LU-see-uh
Demerjian Golf Practice Facility
dee-MURR-jhan
F
Foellinger Auditorium
FOAL-in-grrr (like a baby horse with a hard “g”)
G
Gies College of Business
Geese
H
Hallene Gateway
Hal-EEN
Holonyak, Nick Jr.
Hole-in-YOCK
I
Illini
Ill-LIE-nai
Illinois
IL-li-noy (no ‘s’ or ‘z’ sound at end)
K
Krannert Art Museum
KRAN-ert, not CRANE-ert
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
KRAN-ert, not CRANE-ert
L
LEED platinum rating
Lead with an “ee” sound, not led
Levis Faculty Center
LEV-iss, not lee-vize as in the jeans.
M
Monticello
MON-ti-SELL-oh
McKechnie Family LIFE Home
Mc-KECK-knee
N
Noyes Laboratory
Noise
S
Saunders Hall
SAWN-ders
Siebel Center for Computer Science
SEE-bel
Siebel Center for Design
SEE-bel
T
Temple Hoyne Buell Hall
Hoyn (like “ahoy”) BYOU-ell
U
Ubben Basketball Facility
UBB-in
V
Vermilion
Ver-MIL-yuhn
W
Wassaja Hall
WAHS-ah-ja
Wohlers Hall
WHOH-lers
Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
Woez
Suggestions?
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