Skip to main content
lingerie

How to Pronounce "lingerie"

The correct pronunciation of "lingerie" is LAN-zhuh-ree /ˈlænʒəri/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "LIN-ger-ee" habit for good.

Hear it · Say it · Check it

lingerie

/ˈlænʒəri/
noun

Women's underwear and nightclothes.

LAN
zhuh
ree
Stress: First syllable (LAN) in British English.

Practice more words like this in the Pronunciation Challenge — a free mic test, no login.

Tap play to hear “lingerie”, then say it aloud and get a free instant clarity check with your microphone.
Real AI scoring

Get your real pronunciation score

Record yourself saying “lingerie” and get a real, AI-graded score with word-by-word feedback — no account needed.

Record yourself saying “lingerie” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.

The Indian-English Mistake: "LIN-ger-ee" — and the Fix

AspectCommon in India (incorrect)Correct
Sounds likeSaying "LIN-ger-ee" with a hard 'g' and a 'lin' start.LAN-zhuh-ree /ˈlænʒəri/
StressOften on the wrong syllableFirst syllable (LAN) in British English.

How Do You Pronounce "lingerie"?

"lingerie" is pronounced LAN-zhuh-ree /ˈlænʒəri/. The stress is on the first syllable (LAN) in British English. As a noun, it means women's underwear and nightclothes.

The 'g' is a soft 'zh' and 'lin' is really 'lan': LAN-zhuh-ree, not 'lin-ger-ie'.

Note: US /ˌlɑːnʒəˈreɪ/ ("lahn-zhuh-RAY") ends in 'ray'; British /ˈlænʒəri/ ends in 'ree'. Both use the soft 'zh' and start with 'lan', not 'lin'.

Say "lingerie" Step by Step

Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.

1

Break it into syllables

LAN-zhuh-ree — say each part slowly and separately first.

2

Stress the right part

First syllable (LAN) in British English. Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.

3

Nail the key sound

The 'g' is a soft 'zh' and 'lin' is really 'lan': LAN-zhuh-ree, not 'lin-ger-ie'.

4

Blend and repeat

Now say "lingerie" at normal speed: LAN-zhuh-ree. Record yourself and compare.

Minimal-Pair Drills for "lingerie" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)

Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.

1

measure → LAN-zhuh-ree

The 'g' is the 'zh' of 'measure'.

2

NOT LIN-ger-ee — LAN-zhuh-ree

Starts 'lan'; no hard 'g'.

3

Say at speed: "The shop sells lingerie."

Keep the 'zh' soft.

Why "lingerie" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It

Why this happens

Indian speakers read 'lin' and the 'g' as written, but this French loanword starts 'lan' and uses the soft 'zh'.

Tip: Say 'LAN', 'zhuh', then 'ree', with the 'zh' of 'measure': LAN-zhuh-ree.

Hear “lingerie” in a Sentence

Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.

The shop sells lingerie.

She designs lingerie.

This lingerie is made of silk.

Words Related to "lingerie"

Related: genre

Same soft 'zh' from 'g': ZHON-ruh.

Now say it inside a sentence

Getting "lingerie" right on its own is the easy part. Pronunciation only sticks in connected speech. Read a passage aloud and get scored on accuracy and pace, word by word — free, no login.

Read aloud free
Free Chrome Extension
Practice "lingerie" — and every other word — anywhere on the web

Highlight any sentence on any website or YouTube video, read it aloud, and get an instant clarity score with word-by-word feedback — the same check you just tried above, everywhere you read.

Add to Chrome — Free

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pronounce "lingerie" in Indian English?

"lingerie" is pronounced LAN-zhuh-ree /ˈlænʒəri/. The stress is on the first syllable (LAN) in British English. The common Indian rendering "LIN-ger-ee" is incorrect.

What is the most common mistake when saying "lingerie"?

Saying "LIN-ger-ee" with a hard 'g' and a 'lin' start. Say 'LAN', 'zhuh', then 'ree', with the 'zh' of 'measure': LAN-zhuh-ree.

Why do Indian English speakers find "lingerie" hard to pronounce?

Indian speakers read 'lin' and the 'g' as written, but this French loanword starts 'lan' and uses the soft 'zh'. Say 'LAN', 'zhuh', then 'ree', with the 'zh' of 'measure': LAN-zhuh-ree.

Is there a US and UK difference in pronouncing "lingerie"?

US /ˌlɑːnʒəˈreɪ/ ("lahn-zhuh-RAY") ends in 'ray'; British /ˈlænʒəri/ ends in 'ree'. Both use the soft 'zh' and start with 'lan', not 'lin'.

Hear How Your English Really Sounds

Read a passage aloud and get scored word by word, with misread words highlighted and the sounds behind them a tap away. Used by 30,000+ learners.

Read Aloud, scored per word

Misread words highlighted

AI tutor voice calls