How to pronounce like in American English

IPA /laɪk/ Syllables 1 · lahyk Stress 1st syllable

LAHYK

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Americans pronounce like as LAHYK (/laɪk/).

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Sounds

75%

Clarity

68%

Stress

78%

Intonation

65%

Fluency

62%

Overall assessment

Our AI coach listens to your recording and grades 5 dimensions of pronunciation — then tells you exactly what to fix next.

72% Noticeable accent

Common mistakes

Releasing the final consonant with a puff of air.

In "like", the "" is not released — the articulators get into position but hold without the burst of air. Air stops but there's no release burst — the articulators hold position.

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Why it sounds different

Why "like" sounds like LAHYK.

In "like", the "" is not released — the articulators get into position but hold without the burst of air. This is called the Unreleased Stops, the kind of sound shift that makes everyday speech feel effortless. It comes out as LAHYK.

In real conversation

Hear "like" in the wild.

Click any sentence to see the full breakdown — every link, every reduction, every flap-T.

"Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections like the cold."

an·tee·bahy·AH·tuhks er ih·nuh·FEHK·tuhv uh·GEHNST VAHY·ruhl uhn·FEHK·shuhnz LAHYK dhuh KOHLD

"Before we conclude, I would like to address any questions you may have."

buh·FOR wee kuhn·KLOOD ahy wuud LAHYK tuh uh·DREHS EH·nee KWEHS·chuhnz yoo MAY hav

"From my perspective, this seems like the best course of action."

fruhm mahy per·SPEHK·tuhv dhihs SEEMZ LAHYK dhuh behst KORS uhv A·shuhn

"I don't feel like cooking tonight."

ahy DOHNT FEEL LAHYK KUU·kuhng tuh·NAHYT

"I feel like swimming in the small pool."

ahy FEEL LAHYK SWIH·muhng ihn dhuh SMAHL POOL

"I like to drink fresh juice in the morning."

ahy LAHYK tuh DRIHNGK FREHSH JOOS ihn dhuh MOR·nuhng

Watch out

Common pronunciation mistakes in American English.

The textbook way isn't wrong — it's just not how anyone actually says it.

Releasing the final consonant with a puff of air.

In "like", the "" is not released — the articulators get into position but hold without the burst of air. Air stops but there's no release burst — the articulators hold position.

like→LAHYK

Questions

Questions people ask about this.

Is the American pronunciation of "like" different from British English?

American English uses different vowel shapes, a relaxed retroflex R, and connected-speech tricks like flap-T and glottal-stop T that British Received Pronunciation generally avoids. The respell "LAHYK" reflects the casual American form; British dictionaries typically print a citation form with crisper consonants and different vowel choices.

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Overall assessment

Common mistakes

Releasing the final consonant with a puff of air.

Why "like" sounds like LAHYK.

Hear "like" in the wild.

Words that work the same way.

Common pronunciation mistakes in American English.

Releasing the final consonant with a puff of air.

Questions people ask about this.

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