How many syllables are in “library”?

“Library” has 3 syllables: LY-brer-ee.

What is the IPA for “library”?

The American English IPA transcription of “library” is ˈlaɪbrɛri.

How can I practice pronouncing “library”?

Press play to hear “library” spoken by our AI model, then record yourself on this page to get an instant pronunciation score — your first try needs no account.

American English pronunciation

How to pronounce library

/ˈlaɪbrɛri/LY-brer-ee3 syllables

“library” is one of those English words that looks nothing like it sounds. It's 3 syllables (LY-brer-ee), and the trick is in the sounds below — hear it, then say it back and let our AI model show you how close you landed.

Say it & get scored

Hear library, then record yourself and our AI model will score your pronunciation, sound by sound.

The sounds to nail

/l/as in love
Tongue tip at gum ridge. At the end of a syllable ('feel'), the tongue body also pulls back — the dark L.
/ɹ/as in red
American /r/: bunch the tongue back and slightly up. Lips rounded. Don't tap the roof.

Trickier for some first languages

The sounds in “library” are common stumbling blocks for speakers of:

Russian speakers →French speakers →Indian English speakers →Chinese speakers →

Common questions

How many syllables are in “library”?: “Library” has 3 syllables: LY-brer-ee.
What is the IPA for “library”?: The American English IPA transcription of “library” is ˈlaɪbrɛri.
How can I practice pronouncing “library”?: Press play to hear “library” spoken by our AI model, then record yourself on this page to get an instant pronunciation score — your first try needs no account.

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