Native Phrase Lab
WillowbrookWord 59 of 100 · One spelling, two words
How to pronounce close
One spelling · two words · two sounds
close · verb
KLOHZ
/kləʊz/
Please close the door.
close · near
KLOHS
/kləʊs/
The shop is close to here.
My tip
The verb ends with a z sound. “Near” ends with s.
Now you say it
- Listen to both, two or three times.
- Say them slowly, one after the other: KLOHZ, then KLOHS.
- Say both sentences at normal speed.
Questions
How do you pronounce close?
It depends on the meaning. Close (verb) is /kləʊz/, said KLOHZ: "Please close the door." Close (near) is /kləʊs/, said KLOHS: "The shop is close to here." The verb ends with a z sound. “Near” ends with s.
More words like this: one spelling, two words
Practise these sounds
- The schwa, /ə/The small, weak sound in this word. It’s one of the 4 sounds you can practise completely free in my Sound Atlas.
- The Sound MapAll 44 sounds of British English, in my voice. Free.
- Pitch PerfectHear me say it, record yourself, and see your sound under mine. A premium game.
- More gamesFive of my English games are free to play.