silla kingdom: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low
UK/ˈsɪlə/US/ˈsiːlə/ or /ˈsɪlə/

Academic / Historical

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “silla kingdom” mean?

A Korean kingdom (57 BCE – 935 CE) that unified the Korean Peninsula for the first time.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A Korean kingdom (57 BCE – 935 CE) that unified the Korean Peninsula for the first time.

In English, the term is used almost exclusively to refer to the historical kingdom and its associated culture, artifacts, or dynastic period. It often appears in historical, academic, or cultural contexts.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent across both variants.

Connotations

Associated primarily with scholarly historical discourse, museum studies, and East Asian history.

Frequency

Equally rare in both UK and US general English, but more likely to be encountered in academic publications on East Asian history in both regions.

Grammar

How to Use “silla kingdom” in a Sentence

the Silla kingdomSilla + (noun) (e.g., Silla pottery, Silla architecture)during Silla

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
unifiedkingdom oferadynastyperiod
medium
royalcapitalartgoldtomb
weak
ancientgreathistoricalKorean

Examples

Examples of “silla kingdom” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The Silla-period tombs are a UNESCO site.
  • This is a fine example of Silla craftsmanship.

American English

  • The Silla-era artifacts are in the museum.
  • She studies Silla political structures.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not applicable in standard business contexts.

Academic

Core usage. Found in history, archaeology, and Asian studies texts. Example: 'The Silla kingdom's gold crowns demonstrate advanced metallurgy.'

Everyday

Virtually never used in casual conversation outside of specific discussions about Korean history or culture.

Technical

Used in archaeology and historiography to specify a precise period and cultural context in Korean history.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “silla kingdom”

Strong

Shilla (alternate romanization)

Neutral

the Silla dynastythe Silla state

Weak

the unified kingdomthe ancient kingdom

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “silla kingdom”

GoguryeoBaekjelater Joseon dynasty

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “silla kingdom”

  • Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a silla' is incorrect).
  • Incorrect capitalisation (e.g., 'the silla kingdom').
  • Misspelling as 'Sila' or 'Sillaa'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

In British English, yes, /ˈsɪlə/ rhymes with 'killer'. In American English, it is often /ˈsiːlə/ (SEE-luh), though the British pronunciation is also accepted.

No. 'Silla' alone is sufficient as it is a proper name. 'Silla kingdom' is often used for added clarity, especially in introductory contexts.

No. 'Shilla' is simply an alternate romanization (spelling in the Latin alphabet) of the same Korean word (신라). 'Silla' is the more common spelling in academic English.

Almost exclusively when discussing Korean history, archaeology, or art. You might encounter it in a museum, a documentary, a university lecture, or a history book.

A Korean kingdom (57 BCE – 935 CE) that unified the Korean Peninsula for the first time.

Silla kingdom is usually academic / historical in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • None

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a SILver crown on a hiLLA (hill). Silla was famous for its exquisite gold and silver royal crowns.

Conceptual Metaphor

HISTORICAL ENTITY AS A FOUNDATION: "Silla is often seen as the foundation of unified Korean culture."

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The kingdom, along with Goguryeo and Baekje, was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
Multiple Choice

What is 'Silla' primarily associated with?

Practise

Train, don’t just look up

Five interactive tools to remember words, train your ear, and build vocabulary in real context — drawn from this dictionary.

See all tools