How to pronounce lightweight
Say it like LY-twayt. Lightweight 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 lightweight. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LY
- twayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lightweight 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.
- twaytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of lightweight
American and British speakers say lightweight in essentially the same way: /ˈlaɪˌtweɪt/ in the US and /ˈlaɪˌtweɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: LY-twayt.
What does lightweight mean?
- a professional boxer who weighs between 131 and 135 pounds
- someone who is unimportant but cheeky and presumptuous
- an amateur boxer who weighs no more than 132 pounds
- weighing relatively little compared with another item or object of similar use“a lightweight fabric”“lightweight wood”
- having no importance or influence“a lightweight intellect”
Where does lightweight come from?
From light (“not heavy”, adjective) + weight (noun).
Questions about saying lightweight
How do you pronounce lightweight?
Say LY-twayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈlaɪˌtweɪt/. In British English it is /ˈlaɪˌtweɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lightweight?
Lightweight has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LY). Broken into parts: LY · twayt.
Do Americans and Brits say lightweight the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlaɪˌtweɪt/ and the British form is /ˈlaɪˌtweɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.