How to pronounce Leslie
Say it like LES-lee. Leslie has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Leslie. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LES
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Leslie pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of Leslie
American and British speakers say Leslie in essentially the same way: /ˈlɛsli/ in the US and /ˈlɛzli/ in the UK.
British respelling: LEZ-lee.
What does Leslie mean?
- A town in Mpumalanga province, South Africa.
Where does Leslie come from?
From a placename in Aberdeenshire, originally Lesslyn, Scottish Gaelic lios cuileann (“garden of hollies”).
Words that rhyme with Leslie
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Leslie.
Questions about saying Leslie
How do you pronounce Leslie?
Say LES-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɛsli/. In British English it is /ˈlɛzli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Leslie?
Leslie has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LES). Broken into parts: LES · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say Leslie the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɛsli/ and the British form is /ˈlɛzli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.