How to pronounce loo
Say it like LOO. Loo 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 loo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOO
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Loo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of loo
American and British speakers say loo in essentially the same way: /lu/ in the US and /luː/ in the UK.
British respelling: LOO.
What does loo mean?
- A lavatory: a room used for urination and defecation.
- A toilet: a fixture used for urination and defecation.
- Alternative form of lanterloo: the card game.
- The penalty paid to the pool in lanterloo for breaking certain rules or failing to take a trick.
- An act that prompts such a penalty.
- A cry to urge on hunting dogs.
Where does loo come from?
Uncertain, although usually derived in some way from Waterloo, the site of Wellington's 1815 victory over Napoleon, likely via a pun based on water closet.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with loo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of loo.
Words that sound like loo
Questions about saying loo
How do you pronounce loo?
Say LOO. The American pronunciation is /lu/. In British English it is /luː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in loo?
Loo is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LOO.
Do Americans and Brits say loo the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /lu/ and the British form is /luː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as loo?
Loo sounds the same as lieu in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.