What is litre? Pronunciation and usage in English

litre means . Learn how to pronounce and use litre through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of litre

litrenoun

/ˈliːtə/
Definition & pronunciation of litre

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "litre" in English. It's a tricky one because it's a word borrowed from French! Here's a breakdown:

The most common and widely accepted pronunciation is:

  • LEER-ee

Let's break that down further:

  • LEER: Like the word "leer" (as in, a playful smile). Emphasize this syllable.
  • ee: As in the letter "e" – a short, clear “ee” sound.

Here's a more detailed guide:

  1. The "l" sound: Americans often pronounce the "l" like an "r" sound (as in "litre" sounds like "reer"). However, many British English speakers pronounce it as a standard "l" sound. It’s better to aim for a clear "l" sound.

  2. Stress: The primary stress is on the first syllable: LEER.

  3. Vowel Sound: The “ee” sound is crucial. It's similar to the vowel sound in "see" or "meet."

Resources to Hear it:

  • Google Translate: Type "litre" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon to hear the pronunciation.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/litre/ - This website has pronunciations from native speakers.
  • YouTube: Search YouTube for "how to pronounce litre" - you'll find many helpful videos.

Important Note: There’s a slight variation in pronunciation between British and American English. However, LEER-ee is generally accepted and understood in both dialects.

Do you want me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation?
  • Give you another example of a word with a similar pronunciation?

Usage and examples with the word litre in English

Let's break down how to use the word "litre" in English. It's a unit of volume, and it's most commonly used in the metric system. Here's a comprehensive guide:

1. What is a Litre?

  • A litre (symbol: L) is a unit of volume equal to 1000 cubic centimeters (cm³). Think of it as a standard measure of how much space something takes up.

2. Common Uses:

  • Measuring Liquids: This is its most frequent use.

    • Fuel: "I need to buy 10 litres of petrol (gasoline)."
    • Water: "The tank holds 5 litres of water."
    • Milk: "She poured 1 litre of milk into the cereal."
    • Juice: “We used 2 litres of orange juice for the party.”
    • Cooking: “The recipe calls for 200ml of olive oil, which is the same as 2 litres.” (Important: 1 litre = 1000 ml (millilitres))

  • Measuring Gases (Less Common): Sometimes you’ll see it used for gases, though cubic meters (m³) is more typical.

  • Scientific and Technical Contexts: Liters are frequently used in science, engineering, and other technical fields.

3. Conversions:

  • 1 litre = 1000 millilitres (ml) This is crucial to understand. "Millilitre" is a smaller unit of volume.
  • 1000 litres = 1 cubic metre (m³) This shows the relationship to another common measurement.

4. Spelling and Grammar:

  • Litre vs. Liter: Both are correct!

    • Litre is the standard spelling in British English.
    • Liter is the standard spelling in American English. Be consistent in your writing.

  • Singular vs. Plural:

    • Litre/Liter: The singular form is "litre/liter."
    • Litres/Liters: The plural form is "litres/liters."

5. Phrases and Examples:

  • “He filled the bucket with 2 litres of water.”
  • “The car’s fuel tank has a capacity of 60 litres.”
  • “I need to buy a new bottle of shampoo; it’s 1 litre.”
  • “The recipe uses 1.5 litres of heavy cream.” (Note the decimal)
  • "The aquarium needs 3 litres of water."

6. Important Note on Context:

  • Don’t mix units: Be careful when combining liters with other units. If you’re comparing volumes, you’ll need to use the same unit (e.g., litres or millilitres).

Resources for More Information:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Why are you asking about "litre"? (e.g., are you learning English, writing something, etc.)
  • Is there a specific situation you're trying to use it in?

Synonyms for the word litre

Practice with vocabulary litre

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The car's fuel tank has a capacity of 50 ________.
  2. The architect meticulously reviewed the ________ of the building materials before approving the purchase order.
  3. To prepare the herbal tea, you'll need to steep the leaves in at least one ________ of boiling water.
  4. Due to unexpected rainfall, the river's ________ rose significantly overnight, prompting flood warnings.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

There may be multiple correct answers for each question.

  1. Which of the following units are standard for measuring liquid volume? A. litre B. meter C. kilogram D. millilitre

  2. A standard large soft drink bottle often contains approximately two ______. A. grams B. litres C. pounds D. metres

  3. To ensure sufficient hydration, an adult should aim to drink at least two ______ of water daily. A. litres B. kilograms C. metres D. degrees

  4. The packaging design team needs to consider the product's overall _______ to optimize shipping costs. A. weight B. capacity C. dimensions D. quantity

  5. Which term describes how much space a substance occupies? A. mass B. density C. volume D. weight

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

Rewrite each sentence according to the instructions provided.

  1. Original: For the chemical reaction, ensure you dispense exactly one thousand millilitres of the solution. Rewrite using "litre":

  2. Original: The specifications for the emergency water supply indicate a minimum holding capacity of five thousand units of water. Rewrite using "litre":

  3. Original: The engineers meticulously calculated the overall space occupied by the new equipment in the server room. Rewrite without using "litre":

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The car's fuel tank has a capacity of 50 litres.
  2. The architect meticulously reviewed the specifications of the building materials before approving the purchase order.
  3. To prepare the herbal tea, you'll need to steep the leaves in at least one litre of boiling water.
  4. Due to unexpected rainfall, the river's level rose significantly overnight, prompting flood warnings.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. A, D (litre, millilitre)
  2. B (litres)
  3. A (litres)
  4. A, C (weight, dimensions)
  5. C (volume)

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. For the chemical reaction, ensure you dispense exactly one litre of the solution.
  2. The specifications for the emergency water supply indicate a minimum holding capacity of five thousand litres of water.
  3. The engineers meticulously calculated the volume occupied by the new equipment in the server room.

Comment ()