How to pronounce claw
Say it like KLAW. Claw 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 claw. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KLAW
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Claw pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KLAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of claw
American and British speakers say claw in essentially the same way: /klɔ/ in the US and /klɔː/ in the UK.
British respelling: KLAW.
What does claw mean?
- sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles
- a mechanical device that is curved or bent to suspend or hold or pull something
- a grasping structure on the limb of a crustacean or other arthropods
- move as if by clawing, seizing, or digging“They clawed their way to the top of the mountain”
- clutch as if in panic“She clawed the doorknob”
- scratch, scrape, pull, or dig with claws or nails
Where does claw come from?
From Middle English clawe, from Old English clawu, from Proto-Germanic *klawō.
Words that rhyme with claw
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of claw.
Questions about saying claw
How do you pronounce claw?
Say KLAW. The American pronunciation is /klɔ/. In British English it is /klɔː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in claw?
Claw is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KLAW.
Do Americans and Brits say claw the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /klɔ/ and the British form is /klɔː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.