How to pronounce leaf
Say it like LEEF. Leaf 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 leaf. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LEEF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Leaf pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LEEFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of leaf
American and British speakers say leaf in essentially the same way: /lif/ in the US and /liːf/ in the UK.
British respelling: LEEF.
What does leaf mean?
- the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
- a sheet of any written or printed material (especially in a manuscript or book)
- hinged or detachable flat section (as of a table or door)
- look through a book or other written material“He thumbed through the report”“She leafed through the volume”
- turn over pages“leaf through a book”“leaf a manuscript”
- produce leaves, of plants
Where does leaf come from?
(Internet slang: Canadian): In reference to the maple leaf as national symbol.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with leaf
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of leaf.
Questions about saying leaf
How do you pronounce leaf?
Say LEEF. The American pronunciation is /lif/. In British English it is /liːf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in leaf?
Leaf is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LEEF.
Do Americans and Brits say leaf the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /lif/ and the British form is /liːf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.