How to pronounce hold
Say it like HOHLD. Hold 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 hold. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/hoʊld/HOHLD
UK British/həʊld/HOHLD
- HOHLD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hold pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HOHLDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of hold
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: HOHLD.
What does hold mean?
verb
- cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., keep clean“hold in place”“She always held herself as a lady”
- have or hold in one's hands or grip“Hold this bowl for a moment, please”“A crazy idea took hold of him”
- organize or be responsible for“hold a reception”“have, throw, or make a party”
- the act of grasping“he released his clasp on my arm”“he has a strong grip for an old man”
- understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something“he has a good grasp of accounting practices”
- power by which something or someone is affected or dominated“he has a hold over them”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with hold
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hold.
Questions about saying hold
How do you pronounce hold?
Say HOHLD. The American pronunciation is /hoʊld/. In British English it is /həʊld/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hold?
Hold is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: HOHLD.
Is hold pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /həʊld/ (HOHLD).