How to pronounce leather
Say it like LETH-er. Leather has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LETH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce leather. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LETH
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Leather pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LETHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of leather
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: LETH-uh.
What does leather mean?
- an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
- whip with a leather strap
Where does leather come from?
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Leder (“leather”), West Frisian leare (“leather”), Low German Leder (“leather”), Dutch leder, leer (“leather”), German Leder (“leather”), Danish læder (“leather”), Swedish läder (“leather”), Icelandic leður (“leather”).
Words that rhyme with leather
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of leather.
Questions about saying leather
How do you pronounce leather?
Say LETH-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɛðɚ/. In British English it is /ˈlɛðə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in leather?
Leather has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LETH). Broken into parts: LETH · er.
Is leather pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈlɛðə/ (LETH-uh).