How to pronounce alight
Say it like uh-LYTE. Alight has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LYTE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce alight. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- LYTE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Alight pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LYTESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of alight
American and British speakers say alight in essentially the same way: /əˈlaɪt/ in the US and /əˈlaɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-LYTE.
What does alight mean?
- Often followed by from or off: to get off an animal which one has been riding; to dismount; to descend or exit from a vehicle; hence, to complete one's journey; to stop.“He alighted from his horse.”
- Often followed by at, on, or upon: of something aloft: to descend and settle; to land, to lodge, to rest.“A flying bird alights upon a tree.”
- Often followed by on or upon: to find by accident; to chance upon, to come upon.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with alight
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of alight.
Questions about saying alight
How do you pronounce alight?
Say uh-LYTE. The American pronunciation is /əˈlaɪt/. In British English it is /əˈlaɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in alight?
Alight has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LYTE). Broken into parts: uh · LYTE.
Do Americans and Brits say alight the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈlaɪt/ and the British form is /əˈlaɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.