How to pronounce clause
Say it like KLAWZ. Clause 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 clause. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KLAWZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Clause pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KLAWZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of clause
American and British speakers say clause in essentially the same way: /klɔz/ in the US and /klɔːz/ in the UK.
British respelling: KLAWZ.
What does clause mean?
- (grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate functioning as a part of a complex sentence
- a separate section of a legal document (as a statute or contract or will)
Where does clause come from?
From Middle English clause, claus, borrowed from Old French clause, from Medieval Latin clausa (Latin diminutive clausula (“close, end; a clause, close of a period”)), from Latin clausus, past participle of claudere (“to shut, close”).
Words that rhyme with clause
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of clause.
Questions about saying clause
How do you pronounce clause?
Say KLAWZ. The American pronunciation is /klɔz/. In British English it is /klɔːz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in clause?
Clause is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KLAWZ.
Do Americans and Brits say clause the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /klɔz/ and the British form is /klɔːz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.