SUHB-lees
/ˈsʌˌblis/
sublease is pronounced SUHB-lees (/ˈsʌˌblis/). Sublease is a lease of a property or space by a tenant to another party for a portion of the term, while the original tenant retains responsibility to the landlord. It involves an agreement between the original tenant and the subtenant, often with the landlord’s consent. The term emphasizes a secondary, temporary occupancy arrangement within an existing lease.
Sublease is a lease of a property or space by a tenant to another party for a portion of the term, while the original tenant retains responsibility to the landlord. It involves an agreement between the original tenant and the subtenant, often with the landlord’s consent. The term emphasizes a secondary, temporary occupancy arrangement within an existing lease.
"The tenant signed a sublease for three months while they studied abroad."
"A sublease requires the landlord's approval and typically a written agreement."
"She subleased the apartment to a friend to cover part of the rent."
You pronounce it as /ˈsʌb.liːs/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: SUB- (with a short u as in 'sun'), then the second syllable is 'lease' sounding like 'lees' with a long e. The sequence is two syllables: SUB-LEASE. Your mouth starts with a relaxed, short /ʌ/ in the first syllable, then transitions smoothly to /liːs/ with a clear long vowel in the second.
Common errors include turning the first syllable into a longer /ʌː/ or misplacing the stress on the second syllable, saying sub-LEASE as two equal parts. Another error is pronouncing /b/ and /l/ as a blended ‘bl’ cluster too strongly (subleas) or dropping the /s/ at the end (sublee). Correction: keep /ˈsʌb/ with a short, lax /ʌ/ and land the final /s/ crisply after /liːs/. Practice by saying SUB + LEASE in a clipped, distinct manner: /ˈsʌb.liːs/.
In US, /ˈsʌb.liːs/ with rhoticity unaffected; the /r/ is not involved here. UK and US share /ˈsʌb.liːs/, but UK speakers might slightly shorten the first vowel in rapid speech, giving a crisper /ˈsʌb.liːs/. Australian tends to be similar but with subtle vowel length differences and a tendency for more clipped final syllables in fast speech. Overall, the main difference is vowel length and the pace of the second syllable, not the consonants.
The challenge comes from the two-clause structure with a light, quick transition from /ʌ/ to /liː/ and the final /s/. The vowel shift from a lax /ʌ/ to a long /iː/ can feel abrupt. Additionally, the /b/ and /l/ sequence can blur in fast speech, leading to a subtle blend. Focus on a clean /ˈsʌb.liːs/ with a crisp /s/ at the end and a full, long /iː/ in ‘lease’.
The word has a stress on the first syllable (SUB-lease), with the second syllable carrying the long /iː/ in lease. There are no silent letters; both syllables are pronounced. The tricky part is maintaining the short /ʌ/ in the first syllable followed by a long /iː/ in the second, without adding extra consonants or reducing the /s/ at the end.
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Sublease derives from the prefix sub- meaning 'under, secondary' combined with lease, from Old French leser/laisier via Latin lexus, signifying a tenancy contract. The term likely emerged in English property law contexts from medieval practice of chaining tenants who sublet with consent of the landlord. The idea of leasing under another lease developed as urban property markets expanded, and formal tenancy arrangements required distinctions between the original lessee and a sublessee. The word ‘sublease’ appears in legal and real estate documents by the 19th century and became common in modern rental agreements. The compound form clearly marks hierarchy: the sublessee is under (sub) the primary lessee, who remains legally bound to the landlord. Over time, the usage broadened beyond residential to commercial spaces, retaining the core concept of an intermediary tenancy under an existing lease. First known uses are found in contract language and property manuals, with broader public use increasing as tenancy rules evolved and subleasing became a common tool for flexible housing and office space arrangements.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "sublease" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "sublease" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "sublease"
-eze sounds
-ase sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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