How to pronounce licence
Say it like LY-suns. Licence has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce licence. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LY
- suns
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Licence pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- sunsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of licence
American and British speakers say licence in essentially the same way: /ˈlaɪsəns/ in the US and /ˈlaɪsəns/ in the UK.
British respelling: LY-suns.
What does licence mean?
- excessive freedom; lack of due restraint“when liberty becomes license dictatorship is near”“the intolerable license with which the newspapers break...the rules of decorum”
- freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behavior or speech)
- a legal document giving official permission to do something
- authorize officially“I am licensed to practice law in this state”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with licence
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of licence.
Words that sound like licence
Questions about saying licence
How do you pronounce licence?
Say LY-suns. The American pronunciation is /ˈlaɪsəns/. In British English it is /ˈlaɪsəns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in licence?
Licence has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LY). Broken into parts: LY · suns.
Do Americans and Brits say licence the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlaɪsəns/ and the British form is /ˈlaɪsəns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as licence?
Licence sounds the same as license in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.