How to pronounce flaw
Say it like FLAW. Flaw 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 flaw. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FLAW
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Flaw pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FLAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of flaw
American and British speakers say flaw in essentially the same way: /flɔ/ in the US and /flɔː/ in the UK.
British respelling: FLAW.
What does flaw mean?
- an imperfection in an object or machine“a flaw caused the crystal to shatter”“if there are any defects you should send it back to the manufacturer”
- defect or weakness in a person's character“he had his flaws, but he was great nonetheless”
- an imperfection in a plan or theory or legal document that causes it to fail or that reduces its effectiveness
- add a flaw or blemish to; make imperfect or defective
Where does flaw come from?
Cognate with Icelandic flaga (“flake”), Swedish flaga (“flake, scale”), Danish flage (“flake”), Middle Low German vlage (“a layer of soil”), Old English flōh (“a fragment, piece”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with flaw
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of flaw.
Questions about saying flaw
How do you pronounce flaw?
Say FLAW. The American pronunciation is /flɔ/. In British English it is /flɔː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in flaw?
Flaw is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FLAW.
Do Americans and Brits say flaw the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /flɔ/ and the British form is /flɔː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.