"Clothes" is an everyday word that many English learners mispronounce. The surprise? It's only one syllable, and it sounds almost identical to "close" (the verb meaning to shut). Let's clear this up!
The Correct Pronunciation
Say it like this: KLOHZ (1 syllable, rhymes with "close")
NOT: clo-THES (2 syllables) ❌
NOT: clo-THEZ ❌
The Big Surprise
"Clothes" and "close" (to shut) sound almost identical:
- clothes /kloʊz/ - what you wear
- close /kloʊz/ - to shut something
The only tiny difference is that some speakers add a very slight "th" sound in "clothes," but many native speakers pronounce them exactly the same!
Why Is It One Syllable?
In natural English speech, the "th" and "e" in "clothes" get swallowed. The word compresses from what looks like two syllables into just one:
- Written: c-l-o-t-h-e-s (looks like "clo-thes")
- Spoken: KLOHZ (sounds like "close")
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1: Making it two syllables
❌ clo-THEZ
✅ KLOHZ (one syllable)
Mistake #2: Over-pronouncing the TH
❌ cloTHES
✅ KLOHZ (TH is barely there or silent)
Mistake #3: Ending with an S sound instead of Z
❌ KLOHS
✅ KLOHZ (ends with Z sound)
Practice with Similar Words
Clothing Vocabulary
Practice these related words:
Common Phrases
Practice these everyday sentences:
- "I need to change my clothes."
- "Where did you buy those clothes?"
- "Put your dirty clothes in the basket."
- "I have nothing to wear—I need new clothes."
- "Nice clothes!"
Memory Trick
Clothes = Close (they sound the same!)
Think: "Close the door and put on your clothes" - both words rhyme!
Key Takeaways
- Only ONE syllable: KLOHZ
- Sounds almost identical to "close" (to shut)
- The "th" is barely pronounced or silent
- Ends with a Z sound, not S
- Don't say "clo-THES"—that's two syllables
Now you can talk about clothes without hesitation!