English pronunciation · Words Starting with L

Life Pronunciation

Life is pronounced LYF, IPA /ˈlaɪf/.

LYF

US /ˈlaɪf/  ·  UK /ˈlaɪf/

Syllables: LYF (1 syllable)

noun: The condition of being alive, or the period between birth and death.

Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.

Life in a Sentence

  • She spent her whole life within ten miles of here.
  • There is no life on the surface of that planet.
  • City life suits him.

Common Mispronunciations of Life

Not LEEF

The i says its own name here, because a single vowel followed by a consonant and a silent e goes long.

Not LYV

Hiss the f at the end. Buzzing it gives live, which rhymes with hive.

Tip: The plural changes the sound as well as the spelling: one life, two lives, with a buzzed v.

More words starting with l · Every word in the pronunciation guide