How to pronounce loose
Say it like LOOS. Loose 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 loose. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOOS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Loose pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOOSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of loose
American and British speakers say loose in essentially the same way: /lus/ in the US and /luːs/ in the UK.
British respelling: LOOS.
What does loose mean?
- not compact or dense in structure or arrangement“loose gravel”
- (of a ball in sport) not in the possession or control of any player“a loose ball”
- not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting“loose clothing”“the large shoes were very loose”
- grant freedom to; free from confinement
- turn loose or free from restraint“let loose mines”“Loose terrible plagues upon humanity”
- make loose or looser“loosen the tension on a rope”
- without restraint“cows in India are running loose”
Where does loose come from?
From Middle English loos, los, lous, from Old Norse lauss, from Proto-Germanic *lausaz, whence also -less, leasing; from Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- (“to untie, set free, separate”), whence also lyo-, -lysis, via Ancient Greek.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with loose
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of loose.
Questions about saying loose
How do you pronounce loose?
Say LOOS. The American pronunciation is /lus/. In British English it is /luːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in loose?
Loose is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LOOS.
Do Americans and Brits say loose the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /lus/ and the British form is /luːs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.