Is Lesotho pronounced with a 's' or 'z' sound?

It is pronounced with an 's' sound (/s/), not a 'z'. In British IPA: /ləˈsuːtuː/, American: /ləˈsoʊtoʊ/.

What is a person from Lesotho called?

A Mosotho (singular) or Basotho (plural). The adjective is 'Sotho' or 'Basotho'.

Why is Lesotho often mentioned alongside South Africa?

Because Lesotho is an enclave, entirely surrounded by the territory of South Africa, making their economies and politics closely linked.

Is 'Lesotho' ever used as a common noun?

No, it is exclusively a proper noun referring to the country.

Is “lesotho” formal?

Lesotho is usually formal, geographical in register.

lesotho: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low

UK/ləˈsuːtuː/US/ləˈsoʊtoʊ/

Formal, Geographical

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Quick answer

What does “lesotho” mean?

A landlocked country in southern Africa, entirely surrounded by South Africa.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A landlocked country in southern Africa, entirely surrounded by South Africa.

A sovereign kingdom, formerly Basutoland, known for its high altitude, mountainous terrain, and cultural significance as the Sotho nation.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or usage.

Connotations

Geographical/political entity; neutral connotations in both dialects.

Frequency

Equally low-frequency outside of geographical, political, or travel contexts in both dialects.

Grammar

How to Use “lesotho” in a Sentence

[PREP] LesothoLesotho [VERB][ADJ] Lesotho

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

Kingdom of Lesothoin Lesothoto Lesothofrom Lesotho

medium

map of Lesothocapital of Lesothotravel to Lesotho

weak

beautiful Lesothomountainous Lesotho

Examples

Examples of “lesotho” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

Lesotho's highlands
a Lesotho passport

American English

Lesotho's economy
a Lesotho visa

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Refers to trade, investment, or economic conditions within the country.

Academic

Used in geography, political science, African studies, and development economics contexts.

Everyday

Primarily used in travel discussions or general knowledge quizzes.

Technical

Used in cartography, international relations, and climatology reports.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “lesotho”

Strong

Basutoland (historical)

Neutral

The Kingdom of Lesotho

Weak

The Mountain Kingdom

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “lesotho”

Misspelling as 'Lesthoto', 'Lesoto'.
Confusing with 'Lusotho'.
Incorrect pronunciation stressing the first syllable (/ˈlɛsəθoʊ/).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: It is pronounced with an 's' sound (/s/), not a 'z'. In British IPA: /ləˈsuːtuː/, American: /ləˈsoʊtoʊ/.
: A Mosotho (singular) or Basotho (plural). The adjective is 'Sotho' or 'Basotho'.
: Because Lesotho is an enclave, entirely surrounded by the territory of South Africa, making their economies and politics closely linked.
: No, it is exclusively a proper noun referring to the country.
: A landlocked country in southern Africa, entirely surrounded by South Africa.
: Lesotho is usually formal, geographical in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think 'Le-SO-tho' – 'SO' is in the middle of South Africa, which surrounds it.

Conceptual Metaphor

N/A

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The Kingdom of is a landlocked enclave within South Africa.

Multiple Choice

What is the historical name for Lesotho?