How to pronounce loss
Say it like LAWS. Loss 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 loss. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAWS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Loss pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAWSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of loss
American and British speakers say loss in essentially the same way: /lɔs/ in the US and /lɒs/ in the UK.
British respelling: LOS.
What does loss mean?
- something that is lost“the car was a total loss”“loss of livestock left the rancher bankrupt”
- gradual decline in amount or activity“weight loss”“a serious loss of business”
- the act of losing someone or something“everyone expected him to win so his loss was a shock”
Where does loss come from?
Cognate with Icelandic los (“dissolution, looseness, break-up”), Old English lor, forlor (“loss, ruin”), Middle High German verlor (“loss, ruin”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with loss
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of loss.
Questions about saying loss
How do you pronounce loss?
Say LAWS. The American pronunciation is /lɔs/. In British English it is /lɒs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in loss?
Loss is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LAWS.
Do Americans and Brits say loss the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /lɔs/ and the British form is /lɒs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.