How to pronounce allegiance
Say it like uh-LEE-juns. Allegiance has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce allegiance. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- LEE
- juns
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Allegiance 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.
- LEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- junsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of allegiance
American and British speakers say allegiance in essentially the same way: /əˈlidʒəns/ in the US and /əˈliːdʒəns/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-LEE-juns.
What does allegiance mean?
- the act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action“his long commitment to public service”“they felt no loyalty to a losing team”
- the loyalty that citizens owe to their country (or subjects to their sovereign)
Where does allegiance come from?
From Middle English alegiaunce, from Anglo-Norman alegaunce (“loyalty of a liege-servant to one's lord”), variant of Old French ligeance, from lige (“vassal, liegeman”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying allegiance
How do you pronounce allegiance?
Say uh-LEE-juns. The American pronunciation is /əˈlidʒəns/. In British English it is /əˈliːdʒəns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in allegiance?
Allegiance has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEE). Broken into parts: uh · LEE · juns.
Do Americans and Brits say allegiance the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈlidʒəns/ and the British form is /əˈliːdʒəns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.