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How to pronounce lefse

Say it like LEF-suh. Lefse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LEF).

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Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lefse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.

US American/ˈlɛfsə/LEF-suh
UK British/ˈlɛfsə/LEF-suh
  • LEF
  • suh
  • Main stress
  • Lighter stress
  • Unstressed

Lefse pronunciation, sound by sound

Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.

  1. LEFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
  2. suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.

American vs British pronunciation of lefse

American and British speakers say lefse in essentially the same way: /ˈlɛfsə/ in the US and /ˈlɛfsə/ in the UK.

British respelling: LEF-suh.

What does lefse mean?

noun
  1. A traditional soft Norwegian flatbread made from potato, flour, and milk or cream (or sometimes lard) and cooked on a griddle.

Where does lefse come from?

From Norwegian lefse.

Questions about saying lefse

How do you pronounce lefse?

Say LEF-suh. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɛfsə/. In British English it is /ˈlɛfsə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

How many syllables are in lefse?

Lefse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LEF). Broken into parts: LEF · suh.

Do Americans and Brits say lefse the same way?

Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɛfsə/ and the British form is /ˈlɛfsə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.

Pronunciation from Wiktionary; meaning and origin adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).