What does lief mean?
Lief is chiefly a Scots adverb meaning willingly, gladly, or with pleasure. It is especially familiar in the construction “would lief,” as in “I would lief stay,” and it often conveys a warm, slightly old-fashioned tone. The word can also stand alone, particularly in phrases such as “lief see” or “lief go.” Although it may be encountered in Scottish writing and speech, it is not ordinary standard vocabulary in modern British or American English. Its distinctive history and its association with Scottish and northern English literature make it especially useful to readers interested in regional varieties and traditional usage.
Willingly; gladly; with pleasure.
"She would lief hear from you again."
Chiefly Scots; common in the construction “would lief.”
Dear or beloved; pleasing or welcome.
"The laddie is oor lief lad."
Chiefly Scots and northern English; uncommon in modern standard English.
A distinctly Scottish word, lief turns a simple preference into a warm, old-fashioned expression: “I would lief help.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lief come from?
Lief comes from the northern and Scots continuation of Old English lēof, meaning “dear” or “beloved.” In Scots, the word developed into both an adjective meaning “dear” and an adverb meaning “gladly” or “willingly,” with the latter sense influenced by expressions such as “would lief.” It is related to English love and to other Germanic forms in the same family.
How lief is actually used
Lief is chiefly used in Scots and in older or deliberately traditional English. It is literary and regional rather than standard modern British or American English.
Easily confused with lief
Lief is a Scots word meaning gladly or willingly, while a leaf is the flat green part of a plant.
Lief is pronounced like 'leef' and means gladly or willingly in Scots, whereas life refers to existence or living.