Pronunciation: [lˈɛniz] (IPA) 
Lenis is a term used in linguistics to describe sounds that are pronounced with minimal pressure and force. The spelling of the word "Lenis" is interesting because it contains a silent "s" at the end of the word. The IPA phonetic transcription for "Lenis" is /ˈliːnɪs/, which shows that the initial "l" sound is followed by a long "ee" sound and then an "n" sound. The final "is" is pronounced as a short "i" sound followed by a silent "s."
Lenis is a term used in phonetics and linguistics to describe a sound or consonant that is produced with less muscular tension or force compared to its fortis counterpart. It refers to a soft, weak, or unaccented sound, usually represented by the symbol [ʲ] in phonetic transcription.
The lenis sounds are produced with less intensity or strength, often characterized by a lower amplitude or energy in the speech signal. They can be found in various languages and represent a contrast with fortis sounds, which are produced with more muscular tension and force. In some languages, such as English, the lenis and fortis contrasts are found in pairs of consonants, where the fortis sound is typically unaspirated and the lenis sound is usually aspirated.
For instance, in English, the lenis /p/ sound is pronounced as an aspirated [pʰ] at the beginning of a syllable, as in the word "pie," while the fortis /p/ sound is pronounced as an unaspirated [p] at the end of a syllable, as in the word "spin." The distinction between lenis and fortis sounds varies across languages and can also include differences in voicing, length, or other phonetic features.
Overall, lenis refers to a softer or weaker sound production, in contrast to its corresponding fortis counterpart, and plays a role in distinguishing different phonemes in a language.
The word "lenis" comes from Latin. In Latin, "lenis" means soft, mild, or gentle. It is derived from the Latin verb "lenire", which means "to soften" or "to soothe". The term "lenis" is often used in linguistics to refer to consonant sounds that are weak or lenient in pronunciation.
