How do you say 'lead' and in English? More homographs explained
How do you say 'lead' in English? There are actually two correct answers to this question!
Here's a quick pronunciation challenge for you... Think about the word 'lead' in the sentences below - how should it be pronounced in each case?
Record yourself saying the sentences out loud. Then watch the video to check your pronunciation.
Lead homophone example sentences - verb and noun
Do you think he has the qualifications to lead the team?
These pipes are very old - I think they're made of lead.
My dog always pulls at his lead when he sees a squirrel in the park.
🎬 This video explains the homophone 'lead' - with pronunciation examples
‘Lead’ is a homograph in English - a word which has different pronunciations and meanings, but the same spelling in each case.
‘Lead’ as a verb means to take charge of or control a project, or a group of people.
Example: The board agreed she was the right person to lead the business going forward.
In this case, 'lead' is pronounced /liːd/, and rhymes with 'seed'.
‘Lead’ as a noun can mean the person in charge of a project or team (example: Tom's the Lead Developer) and is also the word we use for the long strap you use when you take a dog for a walk.
Example: My dog always gets excited when I pick up his lead, because he knows we're going out.
This 'lead' is also pronounced /liːd/, and rhymes with 'seed'.
'Lead’ can also be used as a noun, to describe the metal/material. We use it to refer to the material in the middle of a pencil. (Although confusingly, it's not lead, it's graphite!)
Example: This pencil has a soft lead, perfect for certain styles of drawing.
This 'lead' is pronounced /led/, and rhymes with 'bed' (and 'said').
Can you hear - and feel - the difference in how the vowel sound is pronounced in each case? To hear the vowel sounds in isolation - and in some different example words - take a look at our interactive phonetic chart.
Want to learn more about homographs? Read our blog post on 'close' and 'wind' here. Or find out how to say 'live' as both a noun and a verb.
If you're interested to find out more about English pronunciation, you can download our free guide to the Six Key Features of International English Pronunciation.
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About the author
Hi there 👋 My name is Jenny Dance, and I have over 20 years' teaching experience. I am fascinated by language and sound, and have a passion for pronunciation...