How to pronounce lifeguard
Say it like LYFE-gard. Lifeguard has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LYFE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lifeguard. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LYFE
- gard
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lifeguard pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LYFESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- gardGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of lifeguard
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: LYFE-gahd.
What does lifeguard mean?
- A lifesaver: a rescuer, usually an expert swimmer, employed to save swimmers in trouble or near drowning at a body of water.
- A bodyguard or unit of bodyguards, a guard of someone's (especially a king's) life or person.
- A sturdy metal bracket fixed in front of each of the leading wheels of a train to deflect small objects away from the wheels to prevent derailment.
Where does lifeguard come from?
From life + guard, calque of Dutch lijfgarde, where life has the sense of Dutch lijf (“body”) (hence literally “bodyguard”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying lifeguard
How do you pronounce lifeguard?
Say LYFE-gard. The American pronunciation is /ˈlaɪfˌɡɑrd/. In British English it is /ˈlaɪfˌɡɑːd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lifeguard?
Lifeguard has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LYFE). Broken into parts: LYFE · gard.
Is lifeguard pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈlaɪfˌɡɑːd/ (LYFE-gahd).