How to Pronounce lead vs led
Key Pronunciation Contrast
‘Lead’ the heavy metal is pronounced ⁄lɛd⁄ exactly like ‘led’ (the past tense of lead), while ‘lead’ the verb is pronounced ⁄liːd⁄.
Contrast: Past tense homophone: ⁄lɛd⁄ vs present verb ⁄liːd⁄
lead
⁄liːd⁄
LEAD
A heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished; both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82, symbol Pb (from Latin plumbum).
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80 total video examplesFrequently Asked Questions: lead vs led
What is the difference in pronunciation between "lead" and "led"?
‘Lead’ the heavy metal is pronounced ⁄lɛd⁄ exactly like ‘led’ (the past tense of lead), while ‘lead’ the verb is pronounced ⁄liːd⁄.
Where does the syllable stress fall in "lead" vs "led"?
"lead" has 1 syllable(s) (lead) with stress on "LEAD". "led" has 1 syllable(s) (led) with stress on "LED".
Why do English learners often confuse "lead" and "led"?
Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Past tense homophone: ⁄lɛd⁄ vs present verb ⁄liːd⁄. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.
What are example sentences for "lead" and "led"?
Example for "lead": "lead on the people behind me. So we got round, and so I got my Gold. It was a team event but you know I got a Gold medal in the World Games. So after that I did the British Games" Example for "led": "The area already has plenty of loud billboards and klieg lights that have drawn complaints from some neighborhood groups, so the city is concerned about anything billboardesque. Mr. Astani’s application to build the LED panels is undergoing an environmental review by city planning officials."