Hydrodynamic　pressure　on　cylinders　would　occur　during　water-cylinder　interaction　when　the　cylinders　are　subjected　to　earthquake　actions.　The　hydrodynamic　pressure　on　elliptical　cylinders　was　investigated　in　this　study.　Firstly,　the　analytical　solution　for　earthquake　induced　hydrodynamic　pressure　on　the　elliptical　cylinder　was　derived　in　elliptical　coordinate　system.　Secondly,　the　proposed　analytical　solution　was　verified　by　the　acoustic-structure　coupling　method　in　commercial　finite　element　software　ABAQUS.　The　numerical　examples　indicated　that　the　proposed　analytical　solutions　were　in　good　agreement　with　the　numerical　solutions.　Thirdly,　the　influence　of　water　compressibility　on　hydrodynamic　pressure　is　analyzed　quantitatively　by　introducing　dimensionless　parameters　including　the　frequency　ratio,　width-depth　ratio　and　ratio　of　long　to　short　axis　of　the　ellipse.　©　2018,　Engineering　Mechanics　Press.　All　right　reserved.