How to pronounce liver
Say it like LIV-er. Liver has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce liver. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIV
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Liver 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.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of liver
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: LIV-uh.
What does liver mean?
- large and complicated reddish-brown glandular organ located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity; secretes bile and functions in metabolism of protein and carbohydrate and fat; synthesizes substances involved in the clotting of the blood; synthesizes vitamin A; detoxifies poisonous substances and breaks down worn-out erythrocytes
- liver of an animal used as meat
- a person who has a special life style“a high liver”
- having a reddish-brown color
Where does liver come from?
From Middle English lyvere, lyver, from Old English lifer (“liver”), from Proto-West Germanic *libru, from Proto-Germanic *librō, from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“to smear, smudge, stick”), from Proto-Indo-European *ley- (“to be slimy, be sticky, glide”).
Words that rhyme with liver
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of liver.
Questions about saying liver
How do you pronounce liver?
Say LIV-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɪvɚ/. In British English it is /ˈlɪvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in liver?
Liver has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIV). Broken into parts: LIV · er.
Is liver pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈlɪvə/ (LIV-uh).