How to pronounce lightning
lightning
/ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/
2 syllables, stress on the first
Check how you say it
Press the button and say “lightning”. You get a percentage and see which sounds came out right.
Free, no sign-up. The recording is used only for scoring and is not stored.
What to watch for
gh is silent here.
Lightning, sound by sound
| /l/as in look | Tongue tip on the ridge behind the teeth; air flows around the sides. |
| /aɪ/as in time | Glide from “ah” to a short “i”. One syllable. |
| /t/as in ten | Tongue tip on the ridge behind the upper teeth, not on the teeth. With a light puff of air. |
| /n/as in no | Tongue tip on the ridge behind the teeth, air through the nose. |
| /ɪ/as in ship | A short, relaxed sound. Do not stretch it into “ee”. |
| /ŋ/as in sing | A nasal sound made with the back of the tongue. No “g” at the end. |
In a sentence
I saw flashes of lightning in the distance.
More words with the /ŋ/ sound
- zheng/zeŋ/
- huang/hwæŋ/
- banquet/ˈbæŋkwət/
- phuong/fuːˈɔːŋ/
- xiang/ˈʃiːɑːŋ/
- hmong/mɔːŋ/
- wyoming/waɪˈəʊmɪŋ/
- phishing/ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
- aisling/ˈeɪslɪŋ/
- hoang/həʊŋ/
Questions and answers
How do you pronounce lightning?
Lightning is pronounced /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/ in American English.
How many syllables are in lightning?
Lightning has 2 syllables.
Which syllable is stressed in lightning?
The first syllable: /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/.
Is there a silent or unusual letter in lightning?
gh is silent here.