EXHIBIT 5.1

                               November 15, 2000

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
5555 N.E. Moore Court
Hillsboro, Oregon 97124-6421

    RE:  REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed by you
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about November 17, 2000 (the
"Registration Statement") in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of an aggregate of 74,000 shares
(the "Shares") of your Common Stock which are issuable upon exercise of that
certain Warrant to Purchase Shares of Common Stock to be issued to Bain &
Company, Inc. (the "Bain Warrant"). As your counsel in connection with this
transaction, we have examined the proceedings taken and are familiar with the
proceedings proposed to be taken by you in connection with the issuance and sale
of the Shares pursuant to the Bain Warrant.

    It is our opinion that, upon completion of the actions being taken, or
contemplated by us as your counsel to be taken by you prior to the issuance of
the Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement and the Bain Warrant, and upon
completion of the actions being taken in order to permit such transactions to be
carried out in accordance with the securities laws of the various states where
required, the Shares will be legally and validly issued, fully-paid and
non-assessable.

    We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                                          Professional Corporation

                                          /s/ WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI,
                                          P.C.