How to pronounce loch
Say it like LOK. Loch 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 loch. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Loch pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of loch
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: LOK.
What does loch mean?
- A lake.
- A bay or arm of the sea.
- Alternative form of lohoch (“medicine taken by licking”).
Where does loch come from?
From Middle English lough, borrowed from Scottish Gaelic loch.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with loch
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of loch.
Words that sound like loch
Questions about saying loch
How do you pronounce loch?
Say LOK. The American pronunciation is /lɑk/. In British English it is /lɒk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in loch?
Loch is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LOK.
Is loch 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 /lɒk/ (LOK).
What words sound the same as loch?
Loch sounds the same as lakh, lock, lough in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.