How to pronounce costs
Say it like KOSTS. Costs is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce costs. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/kɑsts/KOSTS
UK British/kɒsts/KOSTS
- KOSTS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Costs pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOSTSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of costs
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOSTS.
Other ways to say costs
Costs also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- KAWSTS /kɔsts/
What does costs mean?
noun
- pecuniary reimbursement to the winning party for the expenses of litigation
Questions about saying costs
How do you pronounce costs?
Say KOSTS. The American pronunciation is /kɑsts/. In British English it is /kɒsts/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in costs?
Costs is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KOSTS.
Is costs pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /kɒsts/ (KOSTS).