How to pronounce Lisbon
Say it like LIZ-bun. Lisbon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Lisbon. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIZ
- bun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lisbon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LIZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- bunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Lisbon
American and British speakers say Lisbon in essentially the same way: /ˈlɪzbən/ in the US and /ˈlɪzbən/ in the UK.
British respelling: LIZ-bun.
What does Lisbon mean?
- A port city on the Iberian Peninsula, at the mouth of the Tagus River on the Atlantic Ocean; the capital city of Portugal.
- A district of Portugal around the capital.
Where does Lisbon come from?
In other senses, with reference to the Portuguese city.
Questions about saying Lisbon
How do you pronounce Lisbon?
Say LIZ-bun. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɪzbən/. In British English it is /ˈlɪzbən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Lisbon?
Lisbon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIZ). Broken into parts: LIZ · bun.
Do Americans and Brits say Lisbon the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɪzbən/ and the British form is /ˈlɪzbən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.