How to Pronounce Life

To pronounce "life", say LIF-e — 2 syllables, IPA /laɪf/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

life

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

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2

Syllables

4

Letters

/laɪf/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “life”

"life" has 2 syllables: lif-e. It rhymes with strife and rife, if that helps it stick.

What does life mean?

noun

  1. The state of organisms preceding their death, characterized by biological processes such as metabolism and reproduction and distinguishing them from inanimate objects; the state of being alive and living.

    “Having experienced both, the vampire decided that he preferred (un)death to life.  He gave up on life.”

  2. The animating principle or force that keeps an inorganic thing or concept metaphorically alive (dynamic, relevant, etc) and makes it a "living document", "living constitution", etc.

Synonyms

existenceexperiencetime

Antonyms

comavoiddeath

Hear “life” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with life

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

striferifeknifewifeafterlifealewifeco-wifemidwifewildlifefife

Related words

spiritlifespananimationlivinglifetimebiographyalivenessliveliness

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "life"?▾

"Life" has 2 syllables: lif · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "life"?▾

The IPA transcription of "life" is /laɪf/.

What does "life" mean?▾

Life: The state of organisms preceding their death, characterized by biological processes such as metabolism and reproduction and distinguishing them from inanimate objects; the state of being alive and living.

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