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Why "leisure" sounds different in British English
British English says /ˈleʒə/, with the short /e/ of "bed". American English says /ˈliːʒər/, with the long "ee" of "see" and a final R.
Both share the "zh" sound in the middle, the sound of the S in "measure". The British version also drops the final R, so it ends on a soft schwa.
How to say "leisure" like a Brit, step by step
- Say lezh, rhyming with the start of "pleasure".
- Make the zh sound of "measure", buzzing slightly.
- End with a short uh, no R.
- Stress the first syllable: LEZH-uh.
Practise "leisure" in a sentence
- What do you do in your leisure time?
- The hotel has a leisure centre with a pool.
- Read it at your leisure.
Saying it once correctly is easy. Saying it right in the middle of a fast sentence is the hard part, which is why the sentences above matter more than the single word.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce leisure in a British accent?
In Received Pronunciation, leisure is pronounced /ˈleʒə/, roughly "LEZH-uh". It rhymes with "pleasure": LEZH-uh.
Is the American pronunciation of leisure wrong?
No. /ˈliːʒər/ is standard in American English. Both are correct, they simply belong to different accents. If you are learning a British accent, aim for /ˈleʒə/.