least

Pronounce it as /liːst/. Start with a long, tense vowel /iː/ then glide into the /l/ with the tip of the tongue at the alveolar ridge, finish with a clear /st/ cluster. In careful speech, you’ll hear a crisp /st/ at the end; in rapid speech, the /t/ can be light or even elided in some dialects, but avoid dropping the /l/ or vowel entirely.

Common errors include replacing /iː/ with a short vowel like /ɪ/ (saying /lɪst/), or softening the final /st/ into /s/ or /t/ blends (like /lis/). You'll also hear speakers insert a schwa before the /l/ in rapid speech (ləɪst). To correct: hold the /iː/ long enough, keep the /l/ as a clear vocalic onset and articulate /st/ firmly without letting the tongue flop between sounds.

In US, UK, and AU, the core /liːst/ is similar, but rhoticity can affect surrounding phrases. US tends to link to following consonants with a light /t/ release, UK may have a crisper /t/, and AU often exhibits a more centralized vowel before /st/ and a softer /t/ release in casual speech. Overall, the vowel is a long /iː/ in all, with minor timing differences and vowel quality shifts in connected speech.

Because it hinges on sustaining a long /iː/ in a short, clipped word while coordinating a clean onset /l/ and a precise /st/ cluster. Small timing shifts—like shortening the vowel in rapid speech or tensing the tongue for /l/—can alter intelligibility. The challenge is keeping the vowel long yet not run together with the /l/ and final /st/. Practice by isolating each phoneme, then blending them with steady timing.

A good, word-specific tip is to practice a tiny, controlled tongue-tip motion for the /l/ and a crisp stop for /t/ without an extra burst. Say ‘l’ with the tip touching the alveolar ridge, then end with a tight, immediate /t/. Visualize the mouth as starting with the long /iː/ sound, keeping the jaw relaxed but steady, and release the /t/ cleanly, not snapped too hard. This keeps the word compact and clear.