How to pronounce cause
Say it like KAHZ. Cause 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 cause. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAHZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cause pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAHZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of cause
American and British speakers say cause in essentially the same way: /kɑz/ in the US and /kɔːz/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAWZ.
Other ways to say cause
Cause also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- KAWZ /kɔz/
What does cause mean?
- events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something“they are trying to determine the cause of the crash”
- a justification for something existing or happening“he had no cause to complain”“they had good reason to rejoice”
- a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end“he supported populist campaigns”“they worked in the cause of world peace”
- give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally“cause a commotion”“make a stir”
- cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner“The ads induced me to buy a VCR”“My children finally got me to buy a computer”
Words that rhyme with cause
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cause.
Questions about saying cause
How do you pronounce cause?
Say KAHZ. The American pronunciation is /kɑz/. In British English it is /kɔːz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cause?
Cause is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KAHZ.
Do Americans and Brits say cause the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kɑz/ and the British form is /kɔːz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.