How to pronounce “late”

Late is pronounced /ˈleɪt/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.

Syllables and stress

Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.

Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.

“late” sound by sound

“late” is built out of 3 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.

• l
  /l/ — L sound

  Touch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth and let the voiced air flow around the sides of the tongue.
• eɪ
  /eɪ/ — long A (FACE)

  Start at the /e/ position and glide upward and forward toward /ɪ/ — the jaw closes as you say it.
• t
  /t/ — voiceless alveolar stop

  Touch the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the upper teeth, block the air, then release it with a puff.

Silent letters in “late”

Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:

• e
  The letter “e”

  Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.

Words that rhyme with “late”

Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:

Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “late”

Each of these differs from “late” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:

Questions people ask about “late”

How do you pronounce “late”?

“late” is pronounced /ˈleɪt/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.

How many syllables are in “late”?

“late” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.

Does “late” have any silent letters?

Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).

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The sounds inside this word

Words next to “late” in the guide

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