How to pronounce league
Say it like LEEG. League 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 league. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LEEG
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
League pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LEEGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of league
American and British speakers say league in essentially the same way: /liɡ/ in the US and /liːɡ/ in the UK.
British respelling: LEEG.
What does league mean?
- an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
- an association of states or organizations or individuals for common action
- an obsolete unit of distance of variable length (usually 3 miles)
- unite to form a league
Where does league come from?
From Middle English liege, ligg, lige (“a pact between governments, an agreement, alliance”), from Middle French ligue, from Italian lega, from the verb legare, from Latin ligō (“to tie”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with league
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of league.
Questions about saying league
How do you pronounce league?
Say LEEG. The American pronunciation is /liɡ/. In British English it is /liːɡ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in league?
League is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LEEG.
Do Americans and Brits say league the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /liɡ/ and the British form is /liːɡ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.