How to pronounce “license”
License is pronounced /ˈlaɪsəns/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the first one — laɪ. 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 2 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting laɪ in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern Oo — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “license”
✗ Often said: /ˈlɪkens/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈlaɪsəns/
Why the two come apart: the silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it; also, the unstressed vowels flatten all the way down to /ə/ — English swallows them, so they never sound the way they are written; also, at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “license” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“license” sound by sound
“license” is built out of 6 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.
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lTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth and let the voiced air flow around the sides of the tongue.
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aɪStart with the mouth open at an /a/-like position and glide up toward /ɪ/, closing the jaw as you go.
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sHold the tongue tip near (not touching) the ridge behind the upper teeth and force a narrow stream of air down the groove of the tongue.
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əDo almost nothing: leave the tongue in its neutral resting position, mouth slightly open, and make the shortest, weakest possible vowel.
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nTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth, lower the soft palate, and voice the air out through the nose.
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sHold the tongue tip near (not touching) the ridge behind the upper teeth and force a narrow stream of air down the groove of the tongue.
Silent letters in “license”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Questions people ask about “license”
- How do you pronounce “license”?
- “license” is pronounced /ˈlaɪsəns/, with the stress on the first syllable (laɪ). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “license”?
- “license” has 2 syllables: laɪ · səns. The stress pattern is Oo.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “license”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈlɪkens/, but it is actually /ˈlaɪsəns/, because the silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it.
- Does “license” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
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