How to pronounce light
Say it like LYTE. Light 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 light. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LYTE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Light pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LYTESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of light
American and British speakers say light in essentially the same way: /laɪt/ in the US and /laɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: LYTE.
What does light mean?
- (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation“the light was filtered through a soft glass window”
- any device serving as a source of illumination“he stopped the car and turned off the lights”
- a particular perspective or aspect of a situation“although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand”
- of comparatively little physical weight or density“a light load”“magnesium is a light metal--having a specific gravity of 1.74 at 20 degrees C”
- (used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent“light blue”“light colors such as pastels”
- of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment“light infantry”“light cavalry”
- make lighter or brighter“This lamp lightens the room a bit”
- begin to smoke“After the meal, some of the diners lit up”
- to come to rest, settle“Misfortune lighted upon him”
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with light
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of light.
Words that sound like light
Questions about saying light
How do you pronounce light?
Say LYTE. The American pronunciation is /laɪt/. In British English it is /laɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in light?
Light is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LYTE.
Do Americans and Brits say light the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /laɪt/ and the British form is /laɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as light?
Light sounds the same as lite in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.