How to pronounce leftist
Say it like LEF-tist. Leftist has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LEF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce leftist. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LEF
- tist
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Leftist pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LEFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tistKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of leftist
American and British speakers say leftist in essentially the same way: /ˈlɛftɪst/ in the US and /ˈlɛftɪst/ in the UK.
British respelling: LEF-tist.
What does leftist mean?
- a person who belongs to the political left
- believing in or supporting tenets of the political left
Where does leftist come from?
From left + -ist.
Questions about saying leftist
How do you pronounce leftist?
Say LEF-tist. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɛftɪst/. In British English it is /ˈlɛftɪst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in leftist?
Leftist has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LEF). Broken into parts: LEF · tist.
Do Americans and Brits say leftist the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɛftɪst/ and the British form is /ˈlɛftɪst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.