How to pronounce live
Say it like LIV. Live is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- LIV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Verb: rhymes with give. Adjective (a live show): rhymes with five.
Live pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LIVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of live
American and British speakers say live in essentially the same way: /lɪv/ in the US and /lɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: LIV.
Other ways to say live
Live also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- LYVE /laɪv/
What does live mean?
- To be alive; to have life.“He's not expected to live for more than a few months.”
- To have permanent residence somewhere, to inhabit, to reside.“I live at 2a Acacia Avenue. At that time I'd been living in a camper for about six months.”
- (of an object) to have its proper place; to normally be stored.“I washed your gravy boat. Where does it live?”
- Having life; that is alive.“The post office will not ship live animals.”
- Being in existence; actual.“He is a live example of the consequences of excessive drinking.”
- Having active properties; being energized.“Because the vaccinia virus is live, it is important to follow care instructions for the vaccination site.”
- Of an event, as it happens; in real time; direct.“The concert was broadcast live by radio.”
- Of making a performance or speech, in person.“He'll be appearing live at the auditorium.”
Where does live come from?
Cognate with Yola live (“to live”), North Frisian laawe, lawe, lewe, lewi, lewwe, lääwe (“to live”), Saterland Frisian lieuwje, líeuwje (“to live”), West Frisian libje (“to live”), Alemannic German läbe (“to live”), Cimbrian and Mòcheno lem
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with live
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of live.
Words that sound like live
Questions about saying live
How do you pronounce live?
Say LIV. The American pronunciation is /lɪv/. In British English it is /lɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in live?
Live is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LIV.
Do Americans and Brits say live the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /lɪv/ and the British form is /lɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as live?
Live sounds the same as liv in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.