How to Pronounce Lion

To pronounce "lion", say LION — one syllable, IPA /ˈlaɪən/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

lion

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Accent

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/ˈlaɪən/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “lion”

"lion" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with scion and zion, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: lyon — easy to mix up when writing.

What does lion mean?

noun

  1. A big cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly much of Europe.

    “Tigers and lions share a common ancestor from a few million years ago.”

  2. (by extension) Any of various extant and extinct big cats, especially the mountain lion.

adjective

  1. Of the light brown color that resembles the fur of a lion.

Hear “lion” 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 lion

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

scionzionlyonbriandandelionprionchiandian

Related words

tigerleopardcougarwolflionessserpentseal

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "lion"?▾

"Lion" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "lion"?▾

The IPA transcription of "lion" is /ˈlaɪən/.

What does "lion" mean?▾

Lion: A big cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly much of Europe.

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