How to pronounce leaky
Say it like LEE-kee. Leaky has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce leaky. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LEE
- kee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Leaky pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- keeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of leaky
American and British speakers say leaky in essentially the same way: /ˈliki/ in the US and /ˈliːki/ in the UK.
British respelling: LEE-kee.
What does leaky mean?
- Having leaks; not fully sealed.“The leaky bucket dripped only one drop at a time, but by the time I got back to the house it was half empty.”
- Tending to leak secrets or information.
Where does leaky come from?
Likely a normalization ( + -y) of earlier leak, leake, leke (“leaky”, adjective), from Middle English leke (“leaky”), from Old English hlec, *lec (“having cracks or rents; leaky”), from Proto-Germanic *lekaz (“leaking; leaky”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with leaky
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of leaky.
Questions about saying leaky
How do you pronounce leaky?
Say LEE-kee. The American pronunciation is /ˈliki/. In British English it is /ˈliːki/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in leaky?
Leaky has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LEE). Broken into parts: LEE · kee.
Do Americans and Brits say leaky the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈliki/ and the British form is /ˈliːki/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.