English pronunciation · Words Starting with L
Left Pronunciation
Left is pronounced LEFT, IPA /ˈlɛft/.
LEFT
US /ˈlɛft/ · UK /ˈlɛft/
Syllables: LEFT (1 syllable)
adjective, noun and verb: The side opposite the right, and also the past tense of leave.
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Left in a Sentence
- Take the first turning on the left.
- She left her umbrella on the bus.
- There is nothing left in the tin.
Common Mispronunciations of Left
Not LEF
Both consonants have to land at the close, an f and then a t, with no vowel between them.
Not LIFT
Lift is a different word. The vowel here sits lower in the mouth, where kept and slept keep theirs.
Tip: Leave has a long vowel and left a short one, which is the same shortening that turns keep into kept.
More words starting with l · Every word in the pronunciation guide