liaison
noun · a link or contact between people or groups
- leeli
- AYeɪ (stressed)
- zahnzɑːn
- leeli
- AYeɪ (stressed)
- zonzɒn
- US /liˈeɪ.zɑːn/lee-AY-zahn Recorded voice
- UK /liˈeɪ.zɒn/lee-AY-zon Your device’s voice
How to pronounce liaison
Liaison is pronounced lee-AY-zahn in American English and lee-AY-zon in British English. It has three syllables with the stress on the second, AY, and the s sounds like z.
- 3 syllables
- Stress on AY
- US and UK IPA
- Checked in Cambridge and Oxford
IPA checked in the Cambridge Dictionary and Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries. Oxford shows /ˈliːəzɑːn/ for American English, with a different stress. Cambridge and most speakers say lee-AY-zahn. The recording is American English.
Liaison, sound by sound
Each sound in the IPA, with a word you already know that has it.
US American English/liˈeɪ.zɑːn/
lee
- /l/as in leg
- /i/as in happy
AYstressed
- /eɪ/as in day
zahn
- /z/as in zoo
- /ɑː/as in father
- /n/as in now
UK British English/liˈeɪ.zɒn/
lee
- /l/as in leg
- /i/as in happy
AYstressed
- /eɪ/as in day
zon
- /z/as in zoo
- /ɒ/as in hot (UK)
- /n/as in now
Say liaison yourself
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Tip. Three syllables, stressed on AY: lee-AY-zahn. The s sounds like z.
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Common liaison pronunciation mistakes
What people often say instead, and how to fix it. Say lee-AY-zahn.
Not
LAY-zahnJoining the first two vowels. Keep three syllables: lee-AY-zahn.
Not
LY-ay-zonReading the first i as the eye sound. It is ee.
Not
lee-ay-ZAHNStressing the last syllable. The stress is on AY.
Liaison in a sentence
Hear each one, slow it down, then say it. Words change a little when they join others, so practise them in sentences too.
She works as a liaison between the school and parents.
The police named a liaison for the families.
They kept a close liaison with the embassy.
How do you say liaison?
Liaison has three syllables, not two. The first i and the a are separate: lee, then AY. The stress is on AY, and the s is a z sound.
The word is French, from liaison, a binding, and goes back to the Latin verb ligare, to tie. That root is also in ligament and in the English word ligation. A liaison is a person or link that ties two groups together.
Learners often say LAY-zon, joining the first two vowels into one. Keep them apart: lee, AY, zahn. The word also has the verb liaise, which is lee-AYZ.
Words that sound like liaison
Rhymes and words that share its tricky sound. Open any of them in the checker and say it.
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