How to Pronounce Lightning

To pronounce "lightning", say LIGHTN-ing — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈɫaɪtnɪŋ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

lightning

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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2

Syllables

9

Letters

/ˈɫaɪtnɪŋ/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/lˈaɪtnɪŋ/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “lightning”

Break "lightning" into 2 beats and lean on "LIGHTN" — that's the stressed one. It rhymes with enlightening and frightening, if that helps it stick.

What does lightning mean?

noun

  1. A flash of light produced by short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the earth.

    “Although we did not see the lightning, we did hear the thunder.”

  2. A discharge of this kind.

    “That tree was hit by lightning.”

verb

  1. To produce lightning.

adjective

  1. Extremely fast or sudden; moving (as if) at the speed of lightning.

Hear “lightning” 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 lightning

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

enlighteningfrighteningheighteningwhiteningbrighteningtightening

Related words

lightyearflashpointthunderstormstormelectricityraylightlighting

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "lightning"?▾

"Lightning" has 2 syllables: lightn · ing.

What is the IPA transcription of "lightning"?▾

The IPA transcription of "lightning" is /ˈɫaɪtnɪŋ/.

What does "lightning" mean?▾

Lightning: A flash of light produced by short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the earth.

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