pillion
pill·ion/ˈpɪljən/noun, adverb, verb
pillion is spelled P-I-L-L-I-O-N: 7 letters and 2 syllables (pill·ion). It appears about once in every 8 million words in written English, the 82,325th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, pillion means “A pad behind the saddle of a horse for a second rider” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of pillion is pillions.
How many letters and syllables are in pillion?
| Letters | 7: P-I-L-L-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: pill·ion |
| In writing | about once in every 8 million words; the 82,325th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is pillion?
Pillion appears about once in every 8 million words in written English, the 82,325th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce pillion?
- /ˈpɪljən/
Pillion has 2 syllables, split pill·ion in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-pillion.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of pillion
- pillions plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- pillioning participle, present
- pillioned participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does pillion mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A pad behind the saddle of a horse for a second rider.
- 2
A similar second saddle on a bicycle or motorcycle for a passenger.
- 3
The person riding in the pillion.
- 4
The cushion of a saddle.
adverb
- 1
Riding behind the driving rider, as when positioned on the rump of a mount.
verb
- 1
To place (a person) on a pillion.
- 2
To ride on a pillion.
- 3
To put a pillion on a horse.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Pillion in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Sattelkissen , Sozius, Soziussitz , Sozia |
| Spanish | grupera , asiento de pasajero, asiento trasero , pasajero de paquete , de paquete |
| French | siège passager |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does pillion come from?
From Scottish Gaelic pillean (“little rug”), from Latin pellis (“animal skin, pelt”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).