How to pronounce lesbian
Say it like LEZ-bee-un. Lesbian has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LEZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lesbian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LEZ
- bee
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lesbian pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LEZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- beeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of lesbian
American and British speakers say lesbian in essentially the same way: /ˈlɛzbiən/ in the US and /ˈlɛzbiən/ in the UK.
British respelling: LEZ-bee-un.
What does lesbian mean?
- a female homosexual
- a resident of Lesbos
- of or relating to or characterized by homosexual relations between woman
Words that rhyme with lesbian
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lesbian.
Questions about saying lesbian
How do you pronounce lesbian?
Say LEZ-bee-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɛzbiən/. In British English it is /ˈlɛzbiən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lesbian?
Lesbian has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LEZ). Broken into parts: LEZ · bee · un.
Do Americans and Brits say lesbian the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɛzbiən/ and the British form is /ˈlɛzbiən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.