English spellings/Catalogs/L: Difference between revisions

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'''[[English_spellings|Main Page]]  [[English_spellings/A|A]]  [[English_spellings/B|B]]  [[English_spellings/C|C]]  [[English_spellings/D|D]]  [[English_spellings/E|E]]  [[English_spellings/F|F]]  [[English_spellings/G|G]]  [[English_spellings/H|H]]  [[English_spellings/I|I]]  [[English_spellings/J|J]]  [[English_spellings/K|K]]  [[English_spellings/L|L]]  [[English_spellings/M|M]]  [[English_spellings/N|N]]  [[English_spellings/O|O]]  [[English_spellings/P|P]]  [[English_spellings/Q|Q]]  [[English_spellings/R|R]]  [[English_spellings/S|S]]  [[English_spellings/T|T]]  [[English_spellings/U|U]]  [[English_spellings/V|V]]  [[English_spellings/W|W]]  [[English_spellings/X|X]]  [[English_spellings/Y|Y]]  [[English_spellings/Z|Z]]'''
</big></center>


This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with L. To see a different letter (or the main page) navigate with the table at the top.
'''L''' = '''él''' ''railway''


===[[L]]===
'''lâbel''' rhymes with '''tâble
'''L''' = '''él''' ''railway''


'''labŏrious  
'''labŏrious  


'''lâbour''' BrE; AmE -'''or''', cf. '''Lâbor Pàrty''' Australia, etc.
'''lâbour''' BrE; AmE -'''or''', cf. '''Lâbor Pàrty''' ''Australia, etc.'' and '''Lâbour Pàrty''' ''Britain, etc.''


'''lâbourer''' BrE; AmE -'''or'''-
'''lâbourer''' BrE; AmE -'''or'''-


'''lábyrinth
'''lábyrinth''' *lábrinth
 
'''lachrymôse''' *lacrimôse


'''lackadâisical
'''lackadâisical


'''lácklustre''' ''adjective'' one word  
'''lácklustre'''/-'''er''' ''adjective'' one word  


'''lácquer''' *lácker
'''lácquer''' *lácker
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'''lâdies''' ''women''
'''lâdies''' ''women''
'''lâdle'''


'''làger''' ''beer'' hard '''g''', cf. soft '''g''' in '''làrger''' ''bigger''
'''làger''' ''beer'' hard '''g''', cf. soft '''g''' in '''làrger''' ''bigger''
'''làh-dì-dàh'''


'''lâid''' ''egg, table, trap'' *lâyed
'''lâid''' ''egg, table, trap'' *lâyed
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'''lâin''' ''down'' = '''lâne''' ''traffic''
'''lâin''' ''down'' = '''lâne''' ''traffic''


'''lãir''' ''hideout'' ≈ '''lâyer''' ''covering'': both are two syllables, but '''lâir''' is normally shorter
'''lãir''' ''hideout'' ≈ '''lâyer''' ''covering''


'''lâissèz-fãire''' has a silent '''z''': *lây-sây-fãir
'''lâissèz-fãire''' has a silent '''z''': *lây-sây-fãir


'''lámb''' -m
'''lâíty''' rhymes with '''dèíty
 
'''lámb''' ''sheep'' = '''lám''' ''law, thrash


'''lambást''' or '''lambâste
'''lambást''' or '''lambâste
'''lâme'''
'''lámè''' (may be written French-style '''''lamé''''')


'''lamént
'''lamént


'''lámentable''' or '''laméntable
'''lámentable''' or '''laméntable
'''Lampedûsa''': Italian has a voiced '''s''', but unvoiced is usual in English
'''Lámplugh''' *Lámplə
'''LÁN''' ''local area network
'''lándscape


'''lâne''' ''road'' = '''lâin''' ''lie'' = '''Lâne''', '''Lâine''' ''persons''
'''lâne''' ''road'' = '''lâin''' ''lie'' = '''Lâne''', '''Lâine''' ''persons''
'''lánguage''' *láng-gwij


'''lánguorous''' -'''uorou'''-: -ərə-
'''lánguorous''' -'''uorou'''-: -ərə-
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'''lápdog''' one word  
'''lápdog''' one word  
'''Láplánd'''


'''lápse''' ''negative'' = '''láps''' ''lap
'''lápse''' ''negative'' = '''láps''' ''lap


'''largésse''' or AmE '''largéss  
'''largésse''' BrE; AmE can be '''largéss''' *larzhéss or = '''làrge S'''
 
'''làrva''' ''insect'' BrE = '''làva''' ''volcano


'''làrva''' ''insect'' BrE = '''làva''' ''volcano
'''laságna''' *ləzánya, '''laságnê''' *ləzányi


'''lâser''' -z-; rhymes with '''râzor
'''lâser''' -z-; rhymes with '''râzor


'''lasso''' *lássoô
'''lasso''' *lassoô
 
'''lāst
 
'''Làs Vègas''': [[British English|BrE]] usually *Lós Vègas because in [[American English|AmE]] '''Làs''' = '''Lós''', and/or by analogy with '''Lós Ángeles'''; some British speakers say '''Lás''', as if "'''láss Vègas'''"
 
'''lâter''', cf. '''látter


'''Làs Vègas''' - many British speakers say *Lós Vègas probably because they would normally read Las with the á sound, the AmE Làs sounds to British ears like Lós, and by analogy with Lós Ángeles
'''Látin


'''lâter
'''Latìno


'''làttè
'''làttè


'''látter
'''látter
'''láttice''' cf. '''léttuce


'''låud''' ''praise'' = BrE '''lŏrd''' ''master''
'''låud''' ''praise'' = BrE '''lŏrd''' ''master''
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'''lāughter''' rhymes with '''āfter
'''lāughter''' rhymes with '''āfter


'''laureate''' *lóriat
'''laundrétte


'''laurel''' *lórrel  
'''Låura
 
'''låureate''' BrE *lóriət
 
'''låurel''' BrE *lórrel  
 
'''Låuren''' BrE Ló-
 
'''Låurence''' = '''Låwrence''', BrE Ló-
 
'''Laurie''' = '''lórry''', BrE '''ó''', AmE '''å'''


'''làva''' ''volcano'' BrE = '''làrva''' ''insect
'''làva''' ''volcano'' BrE = '''làrva''' ''insect


'''lávish''' cf. '''slâvish
'''lávish''', cf. '''slâvish


'''låw''' ''legal'' = BrE '''lŏre''' ''folk'': *lŏ, cf. '''lôw''' *ləù: Francophones beware
'''låw''' ''legal'' = BrE '''lŏre''' ''folk'': *lŏ; many [[French language|Francophones]] cannot distinguish this word, instead pronouncing it like '''lôw''' *ləù


'''Lawrence''' Ló- or '''Laurence''', w more common
'''Låwrence''' = '''Låurence''' as a boy's given name; the former, with '''w''',  is also a family name and as a given name is more common ('''u''' version is a girl's given name in French), BrE Ló-


'''låwyer''' *lŏyer
'''låwyer''' *lŏyer


'''lây''' ''table, egg, snooker'' as a verb in its own right, or as past of '''lîe'''; = '''lâze''' ''lazy
'''láx''' ''neglect'' = '''lácks''' ''lack
 
'''láxative
 
'''lây''' ''table, egg, snooker'' is a verb in its own right, past and past participle both '''lâid'''; even native speakers confuse '''lây''' with '''lîe''' ''down'' (past '''lây''', past participle '''lâin'''): e.g. "laying low" for '''lŷing lôw'''


'''lâybŷ
'''lâybŷ


'''lâyer''' ''covering'' ≈ '''lãir''' ''hideout'': both are two syllables, but lâyer is normally longer
'''lâyer''' ''covering'' ≈ '''lãir''' ''hideout''
 
'''lâys''' = '''lâze''' ''lazy


'''lâze''' ''lazy'' = '''lâys''' ''table
'''lâze''' ''lazy'' = '''lâys''' ''table
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'''lêa''' ''grass'' = '''lêe''' ''shelter'' = '''Lêe''' = '''Lêigh''' ''persons  
'''lêa''' ''grass'' = '''lêe''' ''shelter'' = '''Lêe''' = '''Lêigh''' ''persons  


'''lêach''' ''percolate'' = '''leêch''' ''worm, sail
'''lêach''' ''percolate'' = '''leêch''' ''worm, sail'' = '''Lêach''' = '''Leêch''' ''persons
 
'''lêad''' ''first, guide, write, dog'' = '''lêde''' ''US journal'' (optional spelling to distinguish it from '''léad''' ''metal'')


'''lêast''' cf. '''lést
'''léad''' ''metal'' = '''léd''' ''took'', past of '''lêad''', cf. '''réad''', past of '''rêad


'''lêaves''' ''leave, leaf''
'''Léad Bélly''' is pronounced with the stress on the first word, as if it were one word, *Léadbelly


'''lêad''' ''first, guide
'''lêader''' ''lead'' = '''lìêder''' ''songs


'''léad''' ''metal'' = '''léd''' ''took'', past of '''lêad''', cf. '''réad''', past of '''rêad
'''Léadsom'''


'''lêader''' ''lead'' = '''lìêder''' ''songs
'''lêaf''', singular of '''lêaves''' ''tree


'''lêak''' ''liquid'' = '''lêek''' ''vegetable
'''lêak''' ''liquid'' = '''lêek''' ''vegetable


'''lêague''' *lêeg  
'''lêague''' *lêeg  
'''Léamington Spà''' begins like '''lémming


'''lêan
'''lêan
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'''lëarn''' past: '''lëarned''' or '''lëarnt
'''lëarn''' past: '''lëarned''' or '''lëarnt


'''lëarned''' as attributive adj: a *lëarníd mán  
'''lëarned''' as an attributive adjective gains a syllable: '''a''' *lëarníd '''mán  
 
'''lêast''' ''less'', cf. '''lést''' ''in case
 
'''lêaves''' ''leave, leaf''—plural of '''lêaf''' ''tree'' and -'''s''' form of the verb '''lêave''' ''go


'''lêast''' ''less'' cf. '''lést''' ''in case
'''Lébanon''' -ənən; AmE -'''ón


'''Lébanon''' -ənən; AmE -ón
'''léd''' ''guided'' (past of '''lêad''') = '''léad''' ''metal'' ('''[[Led Zeppelin|Léd Zéppelin]]''' is so spelt as to avoid mispronunciation)


'''léd''' ''guided'' = '''léad''' ''metal
'''lêde''', AmE alternative spelling of '''lêad''' ''introduction'', intended to avoid confusion with '''léad''' ''metal
 
'''lédger''' makes a minimal pair with BrE '''léisure'''


'''lée''' ''shelter'' = '''Lêe''' = '''Lêigh''' = '''Lêa''' ''persons'' = '''lêa''' ''grass''
'''lée''' ''shelter'' = '''Lêe''' = '''Lêigh''' = '''Lêa''' ''persons'' = '''lêa''' ''grass''


'''lêes''' ''dregs'' cf. '''lêase''' ''contract'', unvoiced s
'''lêes''' ''dregs'', cf. '''lêase''' ''contract'', unvoiced '''s''': [[minimal pair]]


'''leêch''' ''worm, sail'' = '''lêach''' ''percolate
'''leêch''' ''worm, sail'' = '''lêach''' ''percolate'' = '''Lêach''' = '''Leêch''' ''persons


'''Lêeds''' ''city'' = '''lêads''' ''lead
'''Lêeds''' ''city'' = '''lêads''' ''lead
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'''lêer''' ''look'' = '''Lêar''' ''person''
'''lêer''' ''look'' = '''Lêar''' ''person''
'''[[Sheridan le Fanu|lé Fanu]]''' *Léfənu


'''léft''' ''hand, leave''
'''léft''' ''hand, leave''
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'''lêgal
'''lêgal
'''légend''', cf. '''lédge
'''législâtive''' AmE; BrE '''législatíve


'''législâtor
'''législâtor
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'''législatûre
'''législatûre


'''Léicester''' ''city'' = '''Léster''' ''person
'''legítimacy'''


'''Léinster
'''Léicester''' ''city'' = '''Léster''' ''person''; each forms a [[minimal pair|minimal trio]] with '''Léinster''' and '''Léominster'''


'''léisure''' BrE *lézher; AmE '''lêisure''' *lêzher; BrE rhyming with '''méasure''', '''pléasure''' and '''tréasure
'''Léinster''' ''Ireland


'''leîtmotìf
'''Leîpzig
 
'''léisure''' BrE *lézher; AmE '''lêisure''' *lêzher; BrE rhymes with '''méasure''', '''pléasure''' and '''tréasure''', and makes a  minimal pair with '''lédger'''
 
'''leîtmotìf''' has the anglicised [[spelling pronunciation]], while the alternative '''leîtmotìv''' resembles the original [[German language|German]]
 
'''lêmur''' ''animal'' BrE = '''Lìma''' ''Peru


'''Lénnox
'''Lénnox
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'''Lêô
'''Lêô


'''Léominster''' *Lémstə
'''Léominster''' *Lémstər, see '''Léicester'''


'''Léonard''' *Lénnəd = '''Lénnard
'''Lêón''' ''person'' = '''Lỳón''' ''France'', cf. '''lîon''' ''animal


'''léopard''' ''animal'' = '''Léppard''' ''person'' *lépəd, cf. '''Léonard''', '''jéopardy''', also silent o
'''Léonard''' *Lénnərd = '''Lénnard


'''lêotàrd''' *lêətàd
'''léopard''' ''animal'' = '''Léppard''' ''Def'' *lépərd (minimal pair with '''léper'''), cf. '''Léonard''', '''jéopardy''', also silent '''o'''


'''léper''' *lépə, rhyming with '''pépper
'''lêotàrd''' *lêətàrd


'''Lêroy
'''léper''' *lépər, rhyming with '''pépper''', minimal pair with '''léopard'''
 
'''léprechåun''' *léprekåun
 
'''Lërner and Lôewe''' sounds like '''lëarner and lôw'''
 
'''Lerŏy''' or '''Lêroy''', with variant spellings ('''R''', -'''oi'''...)
 
'''Lés''' AmE = '''léss''', BrE *Léz
 
'''lésbian'''
 
'''Lésbós'''
 
'''''lèse-majesté''''' *lâys-mázhestay


'''Lésley''' ''female'' = '''Léslie''' ''male''
'''Lésley''' ''female'' = '''Léslie''' ''male''
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'''léssen''' ''less'' = '''lésson''' ''school''
'''léssen''' ''less'' = '''lésson''' ''school''


'''lést''' ''in case'' cf. '''lêast''' ''less''
'''lést''' ''in case'', cf. '''lêast''' ''less''


'''lêthal
'''lêthal


'''léts''' ''let'' = '''lét’s''' ''let us''
'''léts''' ''allows'' = '''lét's''' ''suggestion''


'''léttuce''' *léttis
'''léttuce''' *léttis = '''Léttice''', cf. '''láttice''' ([[minimal pair]])


'''Levánt
'''Levánt
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'''lévee''' ''dam'' = '''lévy''' ''tax''
'''lévee''' ''dam'' = '''lévy''' ''tax''


'''lêver''' BrE; AmE '''léver
'''lêver''' BrE (= '''lêaver''' ''leave''); some AmE '''léver


'''lêverage''' BrE; AmE '''léverage''' cf. '''béverage''' in both
'''lêverage''' BrE; AmE '''léverage''', cf. '''béverage''' in both


'''Lêvi
'''Lêvî


'''Lévis''' cf. '''Lêavis
'''Lévís''', cf. '''Lêavis


'''lévy''' ''tax'' = '''lévee''' ''dam''
'''lévy''' ''tax'' = '''lévee''' ''dam''


'''leŵd''' cf. '''feûd
'''Lêvy''', '''Lévy''' ''persons
 
'''Leŵ''' ''rare'' = '''Loû''' ''normal'' (shortenings of '''Leŵis''')
 
'''leŵd''' rhymes with '''rûde''' and '''feûd
 
'''Leŵis''' ''person'', ''Scotland'' *Loôwis = '''Leŵes''' ''England''


'''Leŵis''' ''Scotland, person'' *Loôwis = '''Leŵes''' ''England''
'''léxicon''' rhymes with '''Méxican'''
 
'''Lèyland
 
'''Leylándìî


'''Lhàsa
'''Lhàsa


'''liâison''' lì-
'''lîable''', three syllables, cf. '''lîbel''', two


'''lîable''' three syllables
'''liâisón''' *lì-âizón


'''lîar''' ''false'' = '''lŷre''' ''music
'''lîar''' ''false'' = '''lŷre''' ''music'', cf. '''lîe


'''lîbel''' two syllables
'''Líb Dém
 
'''lîbel'''  
 
'''lîbelous'''; BrE can be '''lîbellous


'''líberal
'''líberal
Line 242: Line 339:
'''Lìbra
'''Lìbra


'''lîbrary
'''lîbrary''' - first '''r''' and '''a''' may be silent


'''librãrian
'''librãrian


'''Líbya
'''Líbya''', cf. '''Sýria


'''lîcence''' BrE or '''lîcense''' AmE; can be verb in BrE
'''lîcence''' BrE noun only = '''lîcense'''
'''lîcensed''' *lîcenced


'''lîcensêe''' *lîcencee
'''lîcensêe''' *lîcencee
'''lîcensure
'''licéntiate''' -shət
'''licéntious''' -shəss


'''lîchen''' ''plant'' = '''lîken''' ''compare''
'''lîchen''' ''plant'' = '''lîken''' ''compare''


'''lîe''' ''down, untrue'' cf. '''lŷing''', '''lây
'''lícker''' ''lick'' = '''líquor''' ''drink


'''lìên''' *lêən
'''lícoríce''' AmE, '''líquoríce''' BrE *líckerish
 
'''líd''' = '''Lýdd'''
 
'''Lídl''' = '''Líddle''' = '''Líddell''' ''Alice''
 
'''lîdo''', '''lìdo
 
'''lîe''' ''untrue'' (past and past participle: '''lîed'''), ''down'' (past '''lây''', past participle '''lâin'''), cf. '''lŷing''', present participle and gerund of both; and '''lây''' ''table, egg, snooker'' as a verb in its own right, past and past participle both '''lâid''': the usual mistake is '''lây''' instead of '''lîe''' = '''lŷe''' ''chemical''
 
'''Líechtensteîn''' Lík-, Lísh- or Lích- ''country'', cf. '''Líchtensteîn''' Lík- ''Roy''
 
'''lîed''' ''untruth
 
'''lìêd''' ''song''


'''lìêder''' ''songs'' = '''lêader''' ''lead''
'''lìêder''' ''songs'' = '''lêader''' ''lead''


'''lieuténant''' AmE lût-, BrE léft- or lût-
'''lìen''' *lêən, or = '''lêan
 
'''lieû''' ''in'' = '''loô''' ''toilet'' = '''Loû''' ''person''
 
'''lieuténant''' AmE loôt-, BrE léft- or loôt-
 
'''lîfelong''' one word


'''lîfestyle''' one word
'''lîfestyle''' one word
Line 268: Line 393:
'''lígament
'''lígament


'''lîght''' *lîte - but ‘lite’ can be seen commercially
'''Lígeti''': hard '''g''', [[schwa]]
 
'''lîght''' = '''lîte''', humorous or commercial spelling thereof


'''lîghtning''' ''flash'' *lîtning ≈ '''lîghtening''' ''lighten''
'''lîghtning''' ''flash'' *lîtning ≈ '''lîghtening''' ''lighten''
'''lîkable''' or '''lîkeable


'''lîkelihood
'''lîkelihood
Line 277: Line 406:


'''lîke-mînded
'''lîke-mînded
'''Likùd


'''lîlac
'''lîlac


'''Lilóngwè
'''Lilóngwè
'''líly''' = '''Lýly'''


'''líly-lívered
'''líly-lívered
Line 286: Line 419:
'''límb''' *lím, cf. '''clîmb''' ''up'' = '''clîme''' ''climate''
'''límb''' *lím, cf. '''clîmb''' ''up'' = '''clîme''' ''climate''


'''lîme''' cf. '''Lŷme Rêgis
'''lîme''', cf. '''Lŷme Rêgis


'''límô
'''límô''' *límmo


'''limousìne''' *limmazêen
'''limousìne''' *limmazêen


'''línchpín''' cf. '''lýnch
'''límp


'''Líncoln''' *Língkən
'''línchpín''', cf. '''lýnch


'''Líndsay''' = '''Líndsey''' *Línzy
'''Líncoln''' *Língkən, *Linkən


'''línêage''' *línêíj, cf. '''lîne
'''Líndsay''' = '''Línzey''' = '''Líndsey''' ''Lincolnshire


'''lingerie''' BrE *lánzhery, AmE *lànjerèy, è stressed
'''lîne''' = '''Leŷne
 
'''línêage''' *línêíj, *línny-ij, cf. '''lîne
 
'''línêar'''
 
'''lîner
 
'''lîneúp''' can be hyphenated or two words
 
'''lingerie''' BrE *lánzhery, AmE *lànjə-rèy
 
'''línk''', cf. '''lýnx''', '''Líncs'''


'''Línux'''  
'''Línux'''  


'''lîon''' ''animal'' = '''Lŷon''' ''person'', cf. '''Lỳon''' ''France''
'''lîon''' ''animal'' = '''Lŷon''' ''person'', cf. '''Lỳón''' ''France''


'''líp-rêad  
'''líp-rêad  


'''líquefy''' cf. '''líquid''', '''líquidate
'''líquefy''', cf. '''líquid''', '''líquidate


'''liqueûr''' ''chocolate'' *licûre
'''liqueûr''' ''chocolate'' *licûre


'''líquor''' ''whisky'' *líkker
'''líquor''' ''whisky'' = '''lícker''' ''lick
 
'''líquoríce''' BrE, '''lícoríce''' AmE *líckerish
 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>lírrick (cf. '''límerick''') '''lýric'''


'''Lîsa
'''Lísbon''' ''Portugal'' *Lízbən = BrE '''Lísburn''' ''Ireland''', rhymes with '''Brísbane


'''Lísbon''' *Lízbən
'''Liskeârd'''


'''líst''' ''column, sway'' = '''Líszt''' ''Franz''
'''líst''' ''column, sway'' = '''Líszt''' ''Franz''
Line 324: Line 473:
'''lístless''' *lístlíss
'''lístless''' *lístlíss


'''lîte''' - humorous or commercial spelling of '''lîght
lîte: humorous or commercial spelling of '''lîght''', unsuitable in other contexts


'''líterary
'''líterary
'''líttoral''' ''shore'' = '''líteral''' ''words'' - or can be '''littorāl'''; or be spelt with only one '''t''', '''lítoral'''


'''líturgy
'''líturgy
'''[[Liu Xiaobo|Liû Xiaobǒ]]''' *Lyû Shòu-båw, as it is pronounced by some broadcasters, though in English -'''bô''' is what comes naturally


'''líve''' ''verb
'''líve''' ''verb


'''lîve''' ''adjective'' cf. '''lîfe''' ''noun
'''lîve''' ''adjective'', cf. '''lîfe''' ''noun
 
'''líver''' ''organ''
 
'''lîver bïrd
 
'''Líverpoôl''', cf. '''poôl'''


'''Líverpool
'''Liverpúdlian''' *Líver-púddlian, cf. '''púddle'''


'''Liverpúdlian
'''lîvelihoòd
 
'''lîvely
 
'''lívery


'''líves''' ''verb''  
'''líves''' ''verb''  
Line 343: Line 506:


'''Líz
'''Líz
'''Lìza''' – usually


'''Ljubljàna´''' *Lyùblyàna
'''Ljubljàna´''' *Lyùblyàna
Line 350: Line 511:
'''llàma''' ''animal'' = '''làma''' ''Buddhism''
'''llàma''' ''animal'' = '''làma''' ''Buddhism''


'''Llanélli''' - Welsh names featuring '''Ll'''- are pronounced by many English speakers as if they began Thl-, so: *Thlanéthly - though this does not apply to the very common...
'''Llandudno''' -dídno; see following


'''Llŏyd''' *Lŏyd
'''Llanélli''': Welsh names featuring, very often initially, the [[voiceless alveolar fricative]], [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] [{{IPA|ɬ}}], written '''Ll'''-, '''ll'''-, are pronounced by many non-Welsh speakers with the substitute 'thl-', so: *Thlanéthly—though this does not apply to the very common '''Llŏyd''' *Lŏyd (nor to '''Llèyton''', a variant of '''Lèyton''')
 
'''Llŏyds''' ''bank'' = '''Llŏyd's''' ''insurance'' *Lŏydz
 
'''lôad''' ''heavy, fill'' = '''lôde''' ''rock''


'''lôan''' ''lend'' = '''lône''' ''alone''
'''lôan''' ''lend'' = '''lône''' ''alone''


'''lôath''' ''unwilling'' unvoiced '''th'''; its variant '''lôth''' is perhaps preferable, to avoid confusion with the following, which is sometimes used incorrectly in its place
'''lôath''' ''unwilling'' has unvoiced '''th'''; its variant spelling '''lôth''' is perhaps preferable, to avoid confusion with '''lôathe''', which is often used incorrectly in its place
 
'''lôathe''' ''hate'' has voiced '''th''', *lôadh


'''lôathe''' ''hate'' voiced '''th''', *lôadh
'''lôathsome''' voiced '''th''', no middle 'e'


'''lôathsome''' voiced th, no middle e
'''lóbbyist''' *lóbbiest


'''lóch''' Scottish '''ch''', like Arabic kh, phonetic symbol χ, cf. '''lóck'''; Irish ones are '''lóugh''', same pronunciation
'''lóch''' Scottish '''ch''', like Arabic 'kh', phonetic symbol χ; Irish ones are '''lóugh''', same pronunciation; cf. '''lóck'''


'''lóckjaw''' one word
'''lóckjaw''' one word
'''lódge
'''Lodz''' *Wùdj


'''lôgo
'''lôgo
'''Lôís
'''lolicon''': stressless in Japanese; no standard English pronunciation
'''lóllipop
'''lólly


'''Lòndon
'''Lòndon
Line 372: Line 551:
'''lône''' ''only'' = '''lôan''' ''money''
'''lône''' ''only'' = '''lôan''' ''money''


'''longévity''' -njé-
'''lónger''' ''long'', hard '''g''' sounded separately


'''lónger''' ''long'' hard g sounded separately
'''longëur''' ''bore'', '''g''' not sounded separately


'''longëur''' ''bore'' g not sounded separately
'''longévity''' -njé-


'''Lóngfellow
'''Lóngfellow


'''loô''' ''toilet'' = '''Loû''' ''person'' = '''lieû''' ''in''
'''loô''' ''toilet'' = '''Loû''' ''person'' = '''lieû''' ''in'' = '''Loôe''' ''Cornwall''


'''loòkalike''' ''noun'' one word  
'''loòkalike''' ''noun'' one word  
'''loôm''' ''noun, verb
'''loôphole''' one word, no hyphen


'''loôse''' ''insecure'' *lûce, cf. '''lose''' ''lost'' = '''loôs''' ''loo'' *lûze: writing '''loôse''' for '''lose''' is perhaps the second most common mistake in English after '''ít’s''' for '''íts
'''loôse''' ''insecure'' *lûce, cf. '''lose''' ''lost'' = '''loôs''' ''loo'' *lûze: writing '''loôse''' for '''lose''' is perhaps the second most common mistake in English after '''ít’s''' for '''íts
'''loôsely'''
'''loôser''' ''more loose'' *lûcer, cf. '''loser''' ''lose'' *lûzer


'''loôt''' ''spoils'' = '''lûte''' ''music''
'''loôt''' ''spoils'' = '''lûte''' ''music''


'''lŏre''' ''folk'' = BrE  '''låw''' ''rule''
'''lôpe


'''lórry''' ''transport'' = '''Laurie''' ''person''
'''loquâcious
 
'''lŏre''' ''folk'' BrE =  '''låw''' ''rule''
 
'''lorry''' ''transport'' = '''Laurie''' ''person'', AmE '''å''', BrE '''ó'''
 
'''Lós Ángeles''', cf. '''Làs Vègas


'''lose''' ''lost'' *lûze = '''loôs''' ''toilets'', cf. '''loôse''' ''insecure'' *lûce
'''lose''' ''lost'' *lûze = '''loôs''' ''toilets'', cf. '''loôse''' ''insecure'' *lûce


'''loser''' ''lose'' *lûzer, cf. '''loôser''' ''more insecure''
'''loser''' ''lose'' *lûzer, cf. '''loôser''' ''more loose


'''loses''' lû-, cf. '''lósses
'''loses''' lû-, cf. '''lósses
'''losing''' ''lose'' *loôzing


'''lóss
'''lóss


'''lôth''' ''disinclined'' variant of '''lôath''', and arguably preferable, as it is further from '''lôathe''' ''hate''
'''lôth''' ''disinclined'': variant spelling of '''lôath''' (unvoiced '''th'''), and arguably preferable, as it is further from '''lôathe''' ''hate'' (voiced '''th''')
 
'''Loû''' ''person'' = '''loô''' ''toilet'' = '''lieû''' ''in''; '''Loû''' is the normal shortening of '''Leŵis''', '''[[Lew Hoad|Leŵ Hôad]]''' being an exception


'''loûche''' -sh
'''loûche''' -sh


'''Loûìs''' silent '''s''', or (particularly in '''St. Loûis''') = '''Leŵís
'''lòud'''
 
'''lóugh''' = '''lóch


'''Louìse
'''Loúghborough''' *Lúffbərə


'''Louisiána''' Lûì-; one n
'''Loûìs''' silent '''s''' = '''Loûìê''', or (particularly in '''St. Loûís''') = '''Leŵís


'''lòve''' cf. '''lôathe
'''Louìse''' *Loô-wêez


'''lôw''' cf. '''låw
'''Louisiána''' *Loû-êasy-Ánna, one '''n


'''lûchre''' *lûker, AmE '''lûcher
'''lòur''' = '''lòwer''' ''frown'', cf, '''lôwer
 
'''Loûrdes''' ''France'' = '''lûred''' ''lure
 
'''lòusy'''
 
'''lòut'''
 
'''lòve''', cf. '''lôathe
 
'''lôw''' ''high'' = '''lô''' (archaic) ''look'', cf. '''låw
 
'''lôwer''' ''low'', cf. '''lòwer''' = '''lòur
 
'''Lûcas
 
'''lûcre''' *lûker
 
'''Lúddite
 
'''Lùfthansa''' *Lùft Hánsa


'''lúggage
'''lúggage
Line 421: Line 640:


'''lúmbar''' ''back'' = '''lúmber''' ''wood''
'''lúmbar''' ''back'' = '''lúmber''' ''wood''
'''lûrid'''; AmE also '''lürid'''
'''lúscious''' *lúshus
'''lúsh


'''lûte''' ''music'' = '''loôt''' ''spoils''
'''lûte''' ''music'' = '''loôt''' ''spoils''


'''lúvvie''', a satirical British word for an ''actor'' cf. '''lòve''', '''lòvey-dòvey
'''Lútyens''' can sound like *Lútchins
 
'''lúvvie''', a satirical British word for an ''actor'', cf. '''lòve''', '''lòvey-dòvey


'''Lúxemboürg
'''Lúxemboürg
'''Luxemboürgian''' ''nationality
'''Lúxemboürgish''' ''language
'''Lúxŏr'''
'''Lvív''' *Ləvív
'''lychêe''' is a more common spelling than '''lî'''-, '''lît'''- and '''litchì
'''lŷe''' ''chemical'' = '''lîe''' ''down, untrue


'''lŷing''' from '''lîe
'''lŷing''' from '''lîe


'''lmph
'''lýmph


'''lýnch''' = '''Lýnch''' ''person'', cf. '''línchpin
'''lýnch''' = '''Lýnch''' ''person'', cf. '''línchpin


'''lýnx''' ''animal'' = '''línks''' ''link''
'''lýnx''' ''animal'' = '''línks''' ''link'' = '''Líncs''' ''Lincolnshire''
 
'''Lỳón''' ''France'' = '''Lêón''' ''person'', cf. '''lîon''' ''animal''


'''Lỳón''' ''France'' cf. '''lîon''' ''animal''
'''[[Lyra|Lŷra]]''' ''constellation'', cf. '''lìra''' ''currency


'''lŷre''' ''harp'' = '''lîar''' ''cheat''
'''lŷre''' ''harp'' = '''lîar''' ''cheat''
'''lýric
'''Lỳse''' ''Doucet'' = '''lêes'''
'''Lysístrata''', '''Lysistràta'''
'''Lýttelton''', cf. '''líttle

Latest revision as of 12:05, 5 July 2017

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Use in English
Alphabetical word list
Retroalphabetical list  
Common misspellings  


This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with L. To see a different letter navigate with the table above. The apostrophe is treated as the last letter of the alphabet, after Z.

For a pronunciation key, click on the blue "Catalogs" link below the article title.[e]

L = él railway

lâbel rhymes with tâble

labŏrious

lâbour BrE; AmE -or, cf. Lâbor Pàrty Australia, etc. and Lâbour Pàrty Britain, etc.

lâbourer BrE; AmE -or-

lábyrinth *lábrinth

lachrymôse *lacrimôse

lackadâisical

lácklustre/-er adjective one word

lácquer *lácker

láddies boys

lâdies women

lâdle

làger beer hard g, cf. soft g in làrger bigger

làh-dì-dàh

lâid egg, table, trap *lâyed

lâin down = lâne traffic

lãir hideout ≈ lâyer covering

lâissèz-fãire has a silent z: *lây-sây-fãir

lâíty rhymes with dèíty

lámb sheep = lám law, thrash

lambást or lambâste

lâme

lámè (may be written French-style lamé)

lamént

lámentable or laméntable

Lampedûsa: Italian has a voiced s, but unvoiced is usual in English

Lámplugh *Lámplə

LÁN local area network

lándscape

lâne road = lâin lie = Lâne, Lâine persons

lánguage *láng-gwij

lánguorous -uorou-: -ərə-

Làos nation = lòuse bug

lápdog one word

Láplánd

lápse negative = láps lap

largésse BrE; AmE can be largéss *larzhéss or = làrge S

làrva insect BrE = làva volcano

laságna *ləzánya, laságnê *ləzányi

lâser -z-; rhymes with râzor

lasso *lassoô

lāst

Làs Vègas: BrE usually *Lós Vègas because in AmE Làs = Lós, and/or by analogy with Lós Ángeles; some British speakers say Lás, as if "láss Vègas"

lâter, cf. látter

Látin

Latìno

làttè

látter

láttice cf. léttuce

låud praise = BrE lŏrd master

låudanum

lāughter rhymes with āfter

laundrétte

Låura

låureate BrE *lóriət

låurel BrE *lórrel

Låuren BrE Ló-

Låurence = Låwrence, BrE Ló-

Laurie = lórry, BrE ó, AmE å

làva volcano BrE = làrva insect

lávish, cf. slâvish

låw legal = BrE lŏre folk: *lŏ; many Francophones cannot distinguish this word, instead pronouncing it like lôw *ləù

Låwrence = Låurence as a boy's given name; the former, with w, is also a family name and as a given name is more common (u version is a girl's given name in French), BrE Ló-

låwyer *lŏyer

láx neglect = lácks lack

láxative

lây table, egg, snooker is a verb in its own right, past and past participle both lâid; even native speakers confuse lây with lîe down (past lây, past participle lâin): e.g. "laying low" for lŷing lôw

lâybŷ

lâyer covering ≈ lãir hideout

lâys = lâze lazy

lâze lazy = lâys table

lâzy

lêa grass = lêe shelter = Lêe = Lêigh persons

lêach percolate = leêch worm, sail = Lêach = Leêch persons

lêad first, guide, write, dog = lêde US journal (optional spelling to distinguish it from léad metal)

léad metal = léd took, past of lêad, cf. réad, past of rêad

Léad Bélly is pronounced with the stress on the first word, as if it were one word, *Léadbelly

lêader lead = lìêder songs

Léadsom

lêaf, singular of lêaves tree

lêak liquid = lêek vegetable

lêague *lêeg

Léamington Spà begins like lémming

lêan

léant lean = lént lend = Lént season

lêap

léapt

lëarn past: lëarned or lëarnt

lëarned as an attributive adjective gains a syllable: a *lëarníd mán

lêast less, cf. lést in case

lêaves leave, leaf—plural of lêaf tree and -s form of the verb lêave go

Lébanon -ənən; AmE -ón

léd guided (past of lêad) = léad metal (Léd Zéppelin is so spelt as to avoid mispronunciation)

lêde, AmE alternative spelling of lêad introduction, intended to avoid confusion with léad metal

lédger makes a minimal pair with BrE léisure

lée shelter = Lêe = Lêigh = Lêa persons = lêa grass

lêes dregs, cf. lêase contract, unvoiced s: minimal pair

leêch worm, sail = lêach percolate = Lêach = Leêch persons

Lêeds city = lêads lead

lêek vegetable = lêak liquid

lêer look = Lêar person

lé Fanu *Léfənu

léft hand, leave

léftie politics = léfty hand = Léfty = Léftie nicknames for lefty

légacy

lêgal

légend, cf. lédge

législâtive AmE; BrE législatíve

législâtor

législatûre

legítimacy

Léicester city = Léster person; each forms a minimal trio with Léinster and Léominster

Léinster Ireland

Leîpzig

léisure BrE *lézher; AmE lêisure *lêzher; BrE rhymes with méasure, pléasure and tréasure, and makes a minimal pair with lédger

leîtmotìf has the anglicised spelling pronunciation, while the alternative leîtmotìv resembles the original German

lêmur animal BrE = Lìma Peru

Lénnox

léns *lénze, plural lénses

lént lend = Lént season = léant lean

Lêô

Léominster *Lémstər, see Léicester

Lêón person = Lỳón France, cf. lîon animal

Léonard *Lénnərd = Lénnard

léopard animal = Léppard Def *lépərd (minimal pair with léper), cf. Léonard, jéopardy, also silent o

lêotàrd *lêətàrd

léper *lépər, rhyming with pépper, minimal pair with léopard

léprechåun *léprekåun

Lërner and Lôewe sounds like lëarner and lôw

Lerŏy or Lêroy, with variant spellings (R, -oi...)

Lés AmE = léss, BrE *Léz

lésbian

Lésbós

lèse-majesté *lâys-mázhestay

Lésley female = Léslie male

Lesotho *Lesûtû

léss more

léssen less = lésson school

lést in case, cf. lêast less

lêthal

léts allows = lét's suggestion

léttuce *léttis = Léttice, cf. láttice (minimal pair)

Levánt

lévee dam = lévy tax

lêver BrE (= lêaver leave); some AmE léver

lêverage BrE; AmE léverage, cf. béverage in both

Lêvî

Lévís, cf. Lêavis

lévy tax = lévee dam

Lêvy, Lévy persons

Leŵ rare = Loû normal (shortenings of Leŵis)

leŵd rhymes with rûde and feûd

Leŵis person, Scotland *Loôwis = Leŵes England

léxicon rhymes with Méxican

Lèyland

Leylándìî

Lhàsa

lîable, three syllables, cf. lîbel, two

liâisón *lì-âizón

lîar false = lŷre music, cf. lîe

Líb Dém

lîbel

lîbelous; BrE can be lîbellous

líberal

libertãrian

líberty

libìdo

Lìbra

lîbrary - first r and a may be silent

librãrian

Líbya, cf. Sýria

lîcence BrE noun only = lîcense

lîcensed *lîcenced

lîcensêe *lîcencee

lîcensure

licéntiate -shət

licéntious -shəss

lîchen plant = lîken compare

lícker lick = líquor drink

lícoríce AmE, líquoríce BrE *líckerish

líd = Lýdd

Lídl = Líddle = Líddell Alice

lîdo, lìdo

lîe untrue (past and past participle: lîed), down (past lây, past participle lâin), cf. lŷing, present participle and gerund of both; and lây table, egg, snooker as a verb in its own right, past and past participle both lâid: the usual mistake is lây instead of lîe = lŷe chemical

Líechtensteîn Lík-, Lísh- or Lích- country, cf. Líchtensteîn Lík- Roy

lîed untruth

lìêd song

lìêder songs = lêader lead

lìen *lêən, or = lêan

lieû in = loô toilet = Loû person

lieuténant AmE loôt-, BrE léft- or loôt-

lîfelong one word

lîfestyle one word

lîfetime one word

lígament

Lígeti: hard g, schwa

lîght = lîte, humorous or commercial spelling thereof

lîghtning flash *lîtning ≈ lîghtening lighten

lîkable or lîkeable

lîkelihood

lîkely

lîke-mînded

Likùd

lîlac

Lilóngwè

líly = Lýly

líly-lívered

límb *lím, cf. clîmb up = clîme climate

lîme, cf. Lŷme Rêgis

límô *límmo

limousìne *limmazêen

límp

línchpín, cf. lýnch

Líncoln *Língkən, *Linkən

Líndsay = Línzey = Líndsey Lincolnshire

lîne = Leŷne

línêage *línêíj, *línny-ij, cf. lîne

línêar

lîner

lîneúp can be hyphenated or two words

lingerie BrE *lánzhery, AmE *lànjə-rèy

línk, cf. lýnx, Líncs

Línux

lîon animal = Lŷon person, cf. Lỳón France

líp-rêad

líquefy, cf. líquid, líquidate

liqueûr chocolate *licûre

líquor whisky = lícker lick

líquoríce BrE, lícoríce AmE *líckerish

*lírrick (cf. límerick) lýric

Lísbon Portugal *Lízbən = BrE Lísburn Ireland, rhymes with Brísbane

Liskeârd

líst column, sway = Líszt Franz

lísten *líssen

lístless *lístlíss

lîte: humorous or commercial spelling of lîght, unsuitable in other contexts

líterary

líttoral shore = líteral words - or can be littorāl; or be spelt with only one t, lítoral

líturgy

Liû Xiaobǒ *Lyû Shòu-båw, as it is pronounced by some broadcasters, though in English -bô is what comes naturally

líve verb

lîve adjective, cf. lîfe noun

líver organ

lîver bïrd

Líverpoôl, cf. poôl

Liverpúdlian *Líver-púddlian, cf. púddle

lîvelihoòd

lîvely

lívery

líves verb

lîves life plural of lîfe

Líz

Ljubljàna´ *Lyùblyàna

llàma animal = làma Buddhism

Llandudno -dídno; see following

Llanélli: Welsh names featuring, very often initially, the voiceless alveolar fricative, IPA [ɬ], written Ll-, ll-, are pronounced by many non-Welsh speakers with the substitute 'thl-', so: *Thlanéthly—though this does not apply to the very common Llŏyd *Lŏyd (nor to Llèyton, a variant of Lèyton)

Llŏyds bank = Llŏyd's insurance *Lŏydz

lôad heavy, fill = lôde rock

lôan lend = lône alone

lôath unwilling has unvoiced th; its variant spelling lôth is perhaps preferable, to avoid confusion with lôathe, which is often used incorrectly in its place

lôathe hate has voiced th, *lôadh

lôathsome voiced th, no middle 'e'

lóbbyist *lóbbiest

lóch Scottish ch, like Arabic 'kh', phonetic symbol χ; Irish ones are lóugh, same pronunciation; cf. lóck

lóckjaw one word

lódge

Lodz *Wùdj

lôgo

Lôís

lolicon: stressless in Japanese; no standard English pronunciation

lóllipop

lólly

Lòndon

lône only = lôan money

lónger long, hard g sounded separately

longëur bore, g not sounded separately

longévity -njé-

Lóngfellow

loô toilet = Loû person = lieû in = Loôe Cornwall

loòkalike noun one word

loôm noun, verb

loôphole one word, no hyphen

loôse insecure *lûce, cf. lose lost = loôs loo *lûze: writing loôse for lose is perhaps the second most common mistake in English after ít’s for íts

loôsely

loôser more loose *lûcer, cf. loser lose *lûzer

loôt spoils = lûte music

lôpe

loquâcious

lŏre folk BrE = låw rule

lorry transport = Laurie person, AmE å, BrE ó

Lós Ángeles, cf. Làs Vègas

lose lost *lûze = loôs toilets, cf. loôse insecure *lûce

loser lose *lûzer, cf. loôser more loose

loses lû-, cf. lósses

losing lose *loôzing

lóss

lôth disinclined: variant spelling of lôath (unvoiced th), and arguably preferable, as it is further from lôathe hate (voiced th)

Loû person = loô toilet = lieû in; Loû is the normal shortening of Leŵis, Leŵ Hôad being an exception

loûche -sh

lòud

lóugh = lóch

Loúghborough *Lúffbərə

Loûìs silent s = Loûìê, or (particularly in St. Loûís) = Leŵís

Louìse *Loô-wêez

Louisiána *Loû-êasy-Ánna, one n

lòur = lòwer frown, cf, lôwer

Loûrdes France = lûred lure

lòusy

lòut

lòve, cf. lôathe

lôw high = lô (archaic) look, cf. låw

lôwer low, cf. lòwer = lòur

Lûcas

lûcre *lûker

Lúddite

Lùfthansa *Lùft Hánsa

lúggage

lúllabŷ

lúmbar back = lúmber wood

lûrid; AmE also lürid

lúscious *lúshus

lúsh

lûte music = loôt spoils

Lútyens can sound like *Lútchins

lúvvie, a satirical British word for an actor, cf. lòve, lòvey-dòvey

Lúxemboürg

Luxemboürgian nationality

Lúxemboürgish language

Lúxŏr

Lvív *Ləvív

lychêe is a more common spelling than lî-, lît- and litchì

lŷe chemical = lîe down, untrue

lŷing from lîe

lýmph

lýnch = Lýnch person, cf. línchpin

lýnx animal = línks link = Líncs Lincolnshire

Lỳón France = Lêón person, cf. lîon animal

Lŷra constellation, cf. lìra currency

lŷre harp = lîar cheat

lýric

Lỳse Doucet = lêes

Lysístrata, Lysistràta

Lýttelton, cf. líttle

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