How to pronounce lifetime
Say it like LYFE-tyme. Lifetime 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 lifetime. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LYFE
- tyme
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lifetime 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.
- tymeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of lifetime
American and British speakers say lifetime in essentially the same way: /ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm/ in the US and /ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm/ in the UK.
British respelling: LYFE-tyme.
What does lifetime mean?
- the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)“the battery had a short life”“he lived a long and happy life”
Where does lifetime come from?
From Middle English lyftyme, equivalent to life + time.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying lifetime
How do you pronounce lifetime?
Say LYFE-tyme. The American pronunciation is /ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm/. In British English it is /ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lifetime?
Lifetime has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LYFE). Broken into parts: LYFE · tyme.
Do Americans and Brits say lifetime the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm/ and the British form is /ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.