One syllable: clock.
klahk
/klɑk/
clock is pronounced klahk (/klɑk/). It has one syllable (clock), with the stress on "clock". Clock is a short, single-syllable timekeeping noun or verb. It denotes a device that measures and displays time, or the act of recording time by stamping or marking it. In everyday use, clock commonly refers to wall or wrist clocks, as well as the action of punching in at work; its sound and function are instantly recognizable. The word carries a crisp, clipped pronunciation that foregrounds the final stop.
Clock is a short, single-syllable timekeeping noun or verb. It denotes a device that measures and displays time, or the act of recording time by stamping or marking it. In everyday use, clock commonly refers to wall or wrist clocks, as well as the action of punching in at work; its sound and function are instantly recognizable. The word carries a crisp, clipped pronunciation that foregrounds the final stop.
Tips: • Practice saying clock with a quick, light /l/ and a precise /k/ release. • Use a mirror to confirm tongue blade touches the alveolar ridge, not the teeth. • Record yourself and compare to native samples to adjust length and release.
"The clock on the wall chimed every hour."
"She set the clock to wake her at dawn."
"The factory worker clocked in at nine sharp."
Clock is pronounced with a single syllable: /klɒk/ in UK English and /klɑk/ in US English, with a hard final /k/. The onset clusters /kl/ involve a light, quick release of the lips and a simultaneous raising of the tongue blade to the alveolar ridge, followed by a back, tense /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ vowel and a firm final /k/ release. In connected speech, the vowel can be slightly centralized or shortened, but keep the final /k/ audible. IPA: US /klɑk/, UK /klɒk/; aim for crisp onset and crisp vowel before the final stop.
Common mistakes include elongating the vowel (sounding like 'cloik') and softening or dropping the final /k/ (producing /klɒ/ or /klɒt/). Some speakers insert a vowel between the /k/ and the following consonant in rapid speech, making /klɔk/ or /klɪk/. To correct, ensure the /l/ is light but steady, keep the /kl/ onset compact, and execute a full, audible /k/ release with a short, tense vowel before it. Practice with minimal pairs like clock/clocked and lock/rock to feel the final consonant contrast.
In US English, clock uses a low-back tense vowel /ɑ/ as in /klɑk/, with a clear final /k/. UK English typically features a more rounded /ɒ/ in /klɒk/ with non-rhotic tendencies less affecting this word due to its explicit final consonant; Australians often approximate US vowel quality but may exhibit shorter vowel duration and a slightly reduced peace between /l/ and /k/. Overall, rhoticity is not the defining factor here; the key differences are vowel height and quality: /ɑ/ vs /ɒ/ and the degree of vowel length.
The challenge lies in the tight cluster /kl/ followed by a hard /k/ release, which requires precise timing and lip-tinger coordination. The initial /kl/ blend can become a hesitant attack for non-native speakers, and the final /k/ must be released cleanly without an intrusive vowel. Mastery demands ensuring the tongue arches for /l/ without drifting, maintaining a very quick onset, and producing a crisp, voiceless /k/ at the end. IPA cues: /klɑk/ or /klɒk/, focus on the stop release.
In careful or emphatic speech you might hear a tiny, almost imperceptible vowel between /l/ and /k/—a brief epenthetic sound occasionally appears in fast or hesitant speech. In standard American and British pronunciation, this separation is not intentional; the target is /kl/ as a tight onset, then /ɑː/ or /ɒ/ and a clear /k/. If you notice a gap, you’re likely hearing speed-induced coarticulation; focus on pulling the tongue into /l/ smoothly, then snap a firm /k/ without voicing. IPA: /klɑk/ or /klɒk/.
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Clock derives from the Middle Dutch klocke, meaning bell or clock bell, which in turn comes from clok, related to the sound of bell striking. The term entered English in the 13th–14th centuries as a name for bells and later for clock mechanisms that struck bells. By the 16th century, clock referred specifically to timekeeping devices with a dial and movement, replacing bells-only timing. In the 17th–18th centuries, watchmaking refined clockwork, and the word broadened to portable timepieces and, via metaphor, any device that records or marks time. The semantic shift included “to clock in” as a verb meaning to record working time, reflecting the device’s function in labor contexts. As clocks became ubiquitous, the word lost little of its core sense—time measured, visually displayed, and marked by mechanical action.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "clock" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "clock" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "clock" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "clock"
-ock sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
