How to pronounce “close”
Close is pronounced /ˈkloʊs/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“close” sound by sound
“close” is built out of 4 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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kRaise the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate, seal the air, then release it with a puff.
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lTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth and let the voiced air flow around the sides of the tongue.
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oʊStart with mid-back, lightly rounded lips and glide toward /ʊ/, tightening the rounding as you finish.
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sHold the tongue tip near (not touching) the ridge behind the upper teeth and force a narrow stream of air down the groove of the tongue.
Silent letters in “close”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “close”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “close”
Each of these differs from “close” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “close”
- How do you pronounce “close”?
- “close” is pronounced /ˈkloʊs/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “close”?
- “close” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- Does “close” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
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