How to pronounce caulk
Say it like KAWK. Caulk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce caulk. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAWK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Caulk pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAWKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of caulk
American and British speakers say caulk in essentially the same way: /kɔk/ in the US and /kɔːk/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAWK.
What does caulk mean?
- Caulking.
- A composition of vehicle and pigment used at ambient temperatures for filling/sealing joints or junctures, that remains elastic for an extended period of time after application.
- Alternative form of calk (“pointed projection on a horseshoe”).
- To drive oakum into the seams of a ship's wooden deck or hull to make it watertight.
- To apply caulking to joints, cracks, or a juncture of different materials.
- To take a short sleep; to nap.
Where does caulk come from?
From Old Northern French cauquer, from Late Latin calicāre (“to fill in with limestone, caulk”), derived from calx (“limestone, chalk”).
Words that rhyme with caulk
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of caulk.
Questions about saying caulk
How do you pronounce caulk?
Say KAWK. The American pronunciation is /kɔk/. In British English it is /kɔːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in caulk?
Caulk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KAWK.
Do Americans and Brits say caulk the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kɔk/ and the British form is /kɔːk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.