English pronunciation · Words Starting with L
Lives Pronunciation
Lives is pronounced LIVZ, IPA /ˈlaɪvz/.
LIVZ
US /ˈlaɪvz/
Syllables: LIVZ (1 syllable)
noun (plural of life): The plural of life, meaning the periods during which people or animals are alive.
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Lives in a Sentence
- Seat belts have saved countless lives.
- Their lives changed completely after the move.
- The book follows six lives over forty years.
Common Mispronunciations of Lives
Not LIVZ (rhyming with gives)
That reading is the verb, as in she lives nearby. The plural of life has the long i of five, and the two are told apart only by context.
Not LYFS
The f of life turns into a v in the plural, and the ending is a z. Knife, wife and leaf all change the same way.
Tip: Long i and a v for the noun, short i for the verb: he LIVZ a quiet life, but quiet LYVZ are rare.
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