How to pronounce like
Say it like LYKE. Like 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 like. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LYKE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Like pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LYKESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of like
American and British speakers say like in essentially the same way: /laɪk/ in the US and /laɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: LYKE.
What does like mean?
- prefer or wish to do something“Do you care to try this dish?”“Would you like to come along to the movies?”
- find enjoyable or agreeable“I like jogging”“She likes to read Russian novels”
- be fond of“I like my nephews”
- resembling or similar; having the same or some of the same characteristics; often used in combination“suits of like design”“a limited circle of like minds”
- equal in amount or value“like amounts”“equivalent amounts”
- having the same or similar characteristics“all politicians are alike”“they looked utterly alike”
- a similar kind“dogs, foxes, and the like”“we don't want the likes of you around here”
- a kind of person“We'll not see his like again”“I can't tolerate people of his ilk”
Where does like come from?
Noun from Middle English like (“pleasure, will, like”), from the verb Middle English liken (“to like”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with like
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of like.
Questions about saying like
How do you pronounce like?
Say LYKE. The American pronunciation is /laɪk/. In British English it is /laɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in like?
Like is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LYKE.
Do Americans and Brits say like the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /laɪk/ and the British form is /laɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.