How to pronounce lit
Say it like LIT. Lit 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 lit. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lit pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of lit
American and British speakers say lit in essentially the same way: /lɪt/ in the US and /lɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: LIT.
What does lit mean?
- provided with artificial light“illuminated advertising”“looked up at the lighted windows”
- set afire or burning“the lighted candles”“a lighted cigarette”
- the humanistic study of a body of literature“he took a course in Russian lit”
Where does lit come from?
This form was proscribed during the 18th and 19th centuries, with lighted being preferred, but is now the most common past form of light.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with lit
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lit.
Questions about saying lit
How do you pronounce lit?
Say LIT. The American pronunciation is /lɪt/. In British English it is /lɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lit?
Lit is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LIT.
Do Americans and Brits say lit the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /lɪt/ and the British form is /lɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.