How to pronounce alighten
Say it like uh-LY-tun. Alighten has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce alighten. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- LY
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Alighten 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.
- LYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of alighten
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: uh-LY-tun.
What does alighten mean?
- To alight, to dismount or get down from.
- To alight; to land, to descend and rest.
- To lighten; to reduce in weight or heaviness.
- To make light; to illuminate or brighten.
Where does alighten come from?
From Middle English alighten, from a merger of Old English ālīhtan (“to alight, dismount”), from prefix ā- (compare Gothic 𐌿𐍃- (us-), German er- originally meaning "out") + līhtan (“to alight”); and Old English ġelīhtan (“to alight, approac
Words that rhyme with alighten
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of alighten.
Questions about saying alighten
How do you pronounce alighten?
Say uh-LY-tun. The American pronunciation is /əˈlaɪtən/. In British English it is /əˈlaɪtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in alighten?
Alighten has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LY). Broken into parts: uh · LY · tun.
Is alighten pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /əˈlaɪtən/ (uh-LY-tun).