How to pronounce legal
Say it like LEE-gul. Legal 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 legal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LEE
- gul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Legal 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.
- gulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of legal
American and British speakers say legal in essentially the same way: /ˈliɡəl/ in the US and /ˈliːɡəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: LEE-gul.
What does legal mean?
- established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules
- of or relating to jurisprudence“legal loophole”
- having legal efficacy or force“a sound title to the property”
Where does legal come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin lēgālis (“legal”), from lēx (“law”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with legal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of legal.
Questions about saying legal
How do you pronounce legal?
Say LEE-gul. The American pronunciation is /ˈliɡəl/. In British English it is /ˈliːɡəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in legal?
Legal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LEE). Broken into parts: LEE · gul.
Do Americans and Brits say legal the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈliɡəl/ and the British form is /ˈliːɡəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.