How to pronounce clutch
Say it like KLUHCH. Clutch 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 clutch. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KLUHCH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Clutch pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KLUHCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of clutch
American and British speakers say clutch in essentially the same way: /klʌtʃ/ in the US and /klʌtʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: KLUHCH.
What does clutch mean?
- take hold of; grab“The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter”“She clutched her purse”
- hold firmly, usually with one's hands“She clutched my arm when she got scared”
- affect“Fear seized the prisoners”“The patient was seized with unbearable pains”
- the act of grasping“he released his clasp on my arm”“he has a strong grip for an old man”
- a tense critical situation“he is a good man in the clutch”
- a number of birds hatched at the same time
Where does clutch come from?
Alternative etymology derives Old English clyċċan from Proto-Germanic *klēk- (“claw, hand”), from Proto-Indo-European *glēk-, *ǵlēḱ- (“claw, hand; to clutch, snatch”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with clutch
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of clutch.
Questions about saying clutch
How do you pronounce clutch?
Say KLUHCH. The American pronunciation is /klʌtʃ/. In British English it is /klʌtʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in clutch?
Clutch is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KLUHCH.
Do Americans and Brits say clutch the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /klʌtʃ/ and the British form is /klʌtʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.