How to pronounce liaison
Say it like lee-AY-zahn. Liaison has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (AY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce liaison. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- lee
- AY
- zahn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Three syllables: 'lee-AY-zon'. Don't drop the middle sound.
Liaison pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- AYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- zahnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of liaison
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: lee-AY-zon.
What does liaison mean?
- a usually secretive or illicit sexual relationship
- a channel for communication between groups“he provided a liaison with the guerrillas”
Where does liaison come from?
Borrowed from French liaison (“binding”), from Latin ligātiō (stem ligātiōn-; whence the English doublet ligation), derived from ligō (“to bind”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- (“to bind”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with liaison
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of liaison.
Questions about saying liaison
How do you pronounce liaison?
Say lee-AY-zahn. The American pronunciation is /liˈeɪˌzɑn/. In British English it is /liˈeɪzɒn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in liaison?
Liaison has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (AY). Broken into parts: lee · AY · zahn.
Is liaison pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /liˈeɪzɒn/ (lee-AY-zon).