How to pronounce “light”

Light is pronounced /ˈlaɪt/. 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.

“light” sound by sound

“light” 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.
• aɪ
  /aɪ/ — long I (PRICE)

  Start with the mouth open at an /a/-like position and glide up toward /ɪ/, closing the jaw as you go.
• 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 “light”

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

• gh
  The letter “gh”

  Silent “gh” — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.

Words that rhyme with “light”

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 “light”

Each of these differs from “light” 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 “light”

How do you pronounce “light”?

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

How many syllables are in “light”?

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

Does “light” have any silent letters?

Yes — silent “gh”.

Keep going

The sounds inside this word

Words next to “light” in the guide

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