How to pronounce leak
Say it like LEEK. Leak 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 leak. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LEEK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Leak pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LEEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of leak
American and British speakers say leak in essentially the same way: /lik/ in the US and /liːk/ in the UK.
British respelling: LEEK.
What does leak mean?
- an accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape“one of the tires developed a leak”
- soft watery rot in fruits and vegetables caused by fungi
- a euphemism for urination“he had to take a leak”
- tell anonymously“The news were leaked to the paper”
- be leaked“The news leaked out despite his secrecy”
- enter or escape as through a hole or crack or fissure“Water leaked out of the can into the backpack”“Gas leaked into the basement”
Words that rhyme with leak
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of leak.
Words that sound like leak
Questions about saying leak
How do you pronounce leak?
Say LEEK. The American pronunciation is /lik/. In British English it is /liːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in leak?
Leak is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LEEK.
Do Americans and Brits say leak the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /lik/ and the British form is /liːk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as leak?
Leak sounds the same as leek in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.