How to pronounce lack
Say it like LAK. Lack is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lack. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lack pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of lack
American and British speakers say lack in essentially the same way: /læk/ in the US and /læk/ in the UK.
British respelling: LAK.
What does lack mean?
- the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable“there is a serious lack of insight into the problem”“water is the critical deficiency in desert regions”
- be without“This soup lacks salt”“There is something missing in my jewelry box!”
Where does lack come from?
Eclipsed non-native Middle English carence (“absence, lack”), from Old French carence.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with lack
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lack.
Words that sound like lack
Questions about saying lack
How do you pronounce lack?
Say LAK. The American pronunciation is /læk/. In British English it is /læk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lack?
Lack is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LAK.
Do Americans and Brits say lack the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /læk/ and the British form is /læk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as lack?
Lack sounds the same as lac in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.