Pronunciation guide
How to pronounce library
LY-brair-ee (US, three syllables) or LY-bree (UK, two)
US/ˈlaɪˌbɹɛɹ.i/
laɪbɹɛɹi
UK/ˈlaɪ.bɹi/
laɪbɹi
New to IPA symbols? Read the IPA guide.
Common mistake
Often said 'LY-berry', dropping the first 'r'; keep it - 'LY-brair-ee'.
What “library” means
An institution which holds books and/or other forms of media for use by the public or qualified people often lending them out, as well as providing various other services for its users.
Any institution that lends out its goods for use by the public or a community.
In a sentence
- She borrowed the latest novel from the library.
- The library houses a vast archive of historical documents.
Definitions and examples are derived from Wiktionary, used under CC BY-SA 4.0, then edited by QuickPronounce. Pronunciation data draws on CMUdict.