sleyet
/slaɪt/
slight is pronounced sleyet (/slaɪt/). Slight refers to being small in degree or amount, or to a small insult or disrespect. In phonology, the word is a short, single-syllable adjective or adverb, typically pronounced with a short, crisp initial consonant cluster and a long vowel in some accents when used as an adjective meaning ‘small’ (e.g., slight chance) and with subtle duration differences in connected speech. Overall, it conveys minimal magnitude or a minor degree of something, sometimes with a hint of skepticism or emphasis in context.
Slight refers to being small in degree or amount, or to a small insult or disrespect. In phonology, the word is a short, single-syllable adjective or adverb, typically pronounced with a short, crisp initial consonant cluster and a long vowel in some accents when used as an adjective meaning ‘small’ (e.g., slight chance) and with subtle duration differences in connected speech. Overall, it conveys minimal magnitude or a minor degree of something, sometimes with a hint of skepticism or emphasis in context.
- You may drop the /l/ or merge /sl/ into a simple /s/ sound, producing /sʌɪt/. Keep your tongue blade lightly touching the alveolar ridge for the /l/ before the diphthong. - The /aɪ/ diphthong should glide smoothly from /a/ to /ɪ/; avoid turning it into a pure /aɪ/ or /iː/. Practice by exaggerating the initial position slightly, then settle; - Final /t/ can be unreleased in casual speech, leading to a clipped end; practice with a small burst and clearly released /t/ in careful speech.
"- There was only a slight chance of rain, so we went for a walk anyway."
"- He gave a slight nod, almost imperceptible to others."
"- The remedy caused a slight improvement in her symptoms."
You pronounce it as /slʌɪt/ in US English and /slaɪt/ in UK/Australian, with the Diphthong /aɪ/ starting from an open front position. The initial consonants form a single syllable blend: the /s/ followed by the glide /l/ and then the /ʌɪ/ vowel, ending in /t/. In practice it sounds like a crisp ‘slyte’. IPA: US /slʌɪt/, UK /slaɪt/, AU /slʌɪt/.
Common errors include: 1) Replacing the /aɪ/ diphthong with a pure /iː/ or /ɪ/ sound (sliːt or slɪt). 2) Dropping the /l/ or moving it too far back, making it sound like /sʌɪt/ with a weak L. Correct by keeping the tongue tip lightly touching the alveolar ridge for /l/ and then glide into /aɪ/. 3) Adding an extra syllable or delaying the /t/ closing; ensure you end promptly with the /t/ release.
US contrasts with /slʌɪt/ (short, open-mid vowel in stressed syllables), UK and AU favor /slaɪt/ with a clearer /aɪ/ diphthong and less rhotic vowel influence; in non-rhotic British varieties the /r/ is not present, but this word lacks /r/. Australian often exhibits a slightly more centralized /ɐɪ/ in some speakers and yod coalescence may be less pronounced. In every case, the primary focus is the /s/ + /l/ cluster and the /aɪ/ diphthong; the final /t/ is unreleased in casual speech and released in careful speech. IPA references: US /slʌɪt/, UK /slaɪt/, AU /slʌɪt/ or /slaɪt/ depending on speaker.
Because it blends an /s/ with an /l/ in a rapid frame, creating a consonant cluster that can invite impeded airflow if you don’t position the tongue correctly. The /aɪ/ diphthong requires a smooth glide from a low to a high vowel while maintaining mouth posture; many speakers also shorten or arch the vowel in connected speech, making it sound 'slite' or 'sliht'. Coordinating tongue, lips, and jaw for the cluster and the diphthong is the key challenge.
The keyword focus is on the single-syllable, high-contrast /aɪ/ diphthong in a voiced/unvoiced stop context with an initial /sl/ cluster. People search for pronunciation of ‘slight’ as ‘how to say slight’ or ‘slight pronunciation’ plus IPA cues. Emphasize the precise mouth positions for /s/ and /l/, the tight transition into /aɪ/, and the final /t/ with a potential unreleased stop in casual speech. Include US/UK/AU references and IPA forms to capture diverse queries.
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- US: /slʌɪt/ with a more centered /ʌ/ in some dialects; ensure non-rhoticity does not affect this word (no /r/). - UK: /slaɪt/, tends toward a slightly higher tongue position for /aɪ/ and a crisper /t/; pay attention to less lateral air escaping; - AU: often /slʌɪt/ or /slaɪt/; vowels may sound more centralized in some regions; focus on the /l/ as a light alveolar touch; avoid over-rolling the /r/; IPA: US /slʌɪt/, UK /slaɪt/, AU /slʌɪt/ or /slaɪt/.
The word slight comes from Middle English sleight, derived from Old English sleht or slæht, related to the sense of ‘sliding, light’ or ‘swift’ in some uses. The core meaning evolved from the notion of being “slant, subtle, or small” to describe minimal degree. In Middle English, sleight also carried connotations of craft or cunning (as in ‘sleight of hand’), but by the modern period, slight primarily connotes smallness or a minor insult when used as a verb or adjective. The spelling stabilized in early Modern English, and the current senses—small in amount/degree, or a slight insult—became predominant. First known usages appear in literary texts of the 14th–16th centuries, with gradual semantic narrowing toward the sense of “not significant” or “small in extent.” Modern usage in adjectives and adverbs aligns with that continued emphasis on diminutive magnitude, often with nuance or emphasis depending on stress and context.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "slight" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "slight"
-ght sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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