Pronunciation: [lˈuː] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "lieu" may be confusing to some. The correct pronunciation is /lu:/, with the 'l' pronounced as a light touch with the tip of the tongue touching behind the front teeth. The 'i' is pronounced with a long 'ee' sound, while the 'eu' is pronounced as a long 'oo' sound like in "who". This French-origin word means "instead of" or "in place of" and is commonly used in phrases like "in lieu of" or "in lieu of a gift".
Lieu is a noun commonly used in French and English that refers to a place or location. It can also be understood as a substitute for or in place of something else, serving as a replacement or alternative.
In its primary meaning as a location, lieu refers to a specific area or site where something occurs or exists. It signifies the physical space where an event takes place, serving as a marker or point of reference. For example, in legal terms, the phrase "in lieu of" is often used to indicate a specific location where a transaction or action is substituted or carried out.
Furthermore, lieu can also be used in a figurative sense to represent a substitute or alternative. In this context, it indicates a substitution for something that is normally expected or present. For instance, the phrase "in lieu of flowers" is frequently seen in obituaries, suggesting that instead of sending flowers as a condolence, the family prefers an alternative form of memorial, such as charitable donations.
In summary, lieu is a flexible and versatile word that refers to a physical place or location, as well as a substitute or alternative for something else. Its usage ranges from specific spatial contexts to abstract or symbolic representations of replacement or substitution.
Place; room; stead; used only in the phrase, in lieu of.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "lieu" is derived from the Old French term "Lieu" which means "place" or "location". It ultimately comes from the Latin word "locus" with the same meaning. The evolution of the word can be traced as follows:
Latin: locus (place) -> Old French: lieu -> Middle English: liue, liwe -> Late Middle English: lyue -> Modern English: lieu
Over time, the pronunciation and spelling have changed, but the core meaning of "place" or "location" has remained consistent throughout its evolution.
