How to pronounce clench
Say it like KLENCH. Clench 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 clench. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KLENCH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Clench pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KLENCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of clench
American and British speakers say clench in essentially the same way: /klɛntʃ/ in the US and /klɛntʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: KLENCH.
What does clench mean?
- To grip or hold fast.“I clenched the rope in my teeth.”
- To close tightly.“He clenched his fist in anger.”
- Alternative form of clinch (“bend and hammer a nail”).
- A tight grip.
- Alternative form of clinch (“the act of bending and hammering the point of a nail so it cannot be removed”).
- A seal that is applied to formed thin-wall bushings.
Where does clench come from?
From Middle English clenchen, from Old English clenċan (“to clinch; hold fast”), a variant of Old English clenġan (“to adhere; remain”), from Proto-Germanic *klangijaną, causative of *klinganą (“to stick; adhere”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with clench
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of clench.
Questions about saying clench
How do you pronounce clench?
Say KLENCH. The American pronunciation is /klɛntʃ/. In British English it is /klɛntʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in clench?
Clench is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KLENCH.
Do Americans and Brits say clench the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /klɛntʃ/ and the British form is /klɛntʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.