How to pronounce lie
Say it like LY. Lie is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lie. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lie 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.
American vs British pronunciation of lie
American and British speakers say lie in essentially the same way: /laɪ/ in the US and /laɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: LY.
What does lie mean?
- be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
- be lying, be prostrate; be in a horizontal position“The sick man lay in bed all day”“the books are lying on the shelf”
- originate (in)“The problems dwell in the social injustices in this country”
- a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
- Norwegian diplomat who was the first Secretary General of the United Nations (1896-1968)
- position or manner in which something is situated
Where does lie come from?
As a noun for position, the noun has the same etymology above as the verb.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with lie
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lie.
Words that sound like lie
Questions about saying lie
How do you pronounce lie?
Say LY. The American pronunciation is /laɪ/. In British English it is /laɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lie?
Lie is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LY.
Do Americans and Brits say lie the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /laɪ/ and the British form is /laɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as lie?
Lie sounds the same as lye in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.