2 syllables: clo, ses. Stress on clo.
KLOH-ziz
/ˈkloʊzɪz/
closes is pronounced KLOH-ziz (/ˈkloʊzɪz/). It has two syllables (clo-ses), with the stress on "clo". Closes is the verb meaning to shut something or to bring a door, window, or lid into a closed position. It functions in third-person singular form (he closes) and, in contexts like a business deal, means to bring negotiations to a conclusion. Pronounced with a final /z/ sound, it contrasts with close (verb, /kloʊz/) as a present-tense form.
Closes is the verb meaning to shut something or to bring a door, window, or lid into a closed position. It functions in third-person singular form (he closes) and, in contexts like a business deal, means to bring negotiations to a conclusion. Pronounced with a final /z/ sound, it contrasts with close (verb, /kloʊz/) as a present-tense form.
- You may mispronounce the first syllable vowel as a pure /o/ instead of the tense /oʊ/ or /əʊ/, causing US vs UK AU differences to blur. Aim to open your mouth for /oʊ/ and then float into /zɪz/; - It’s common to drop the middle vowel in rapid speech, yielding /klz/ or /kloz/; keep the /zɪz/ sequence intact to show the two-syllable word; - Some speakers devoice /z/ at the end as /s/; maintain voicing through the entire final consonant by gently vibrating the vocal folds. Practice with slow, then normal pace to ensure the final /z/ remains voiced.
"She closes the shop at nine every night."
"He closes the window before the storm arrives."
"The committee closes negotiations today with a formal agreement."
Pronounce as /kloʊzɪz/ (US) or /kləʊzɪz/ (UK/AU). The stress is on the first syllable: CLO-ses. Start with a rounded back vowel in US English, then glide into a voiced alveolar z-sound, followed by a schwa or reduced vowel before the final z. Keep the /z/ sound clearly voiced and avoid devoicing at the end; your tongue should lightly touch the alveolar ridge for the /z/ as you finish.
Common mistakes include pronouncing it as /kloːs/ with a long 'o' and no final /z/, or replacing the final -es with a silent S, producing /kloz/ or /kloːzɪz/ with mis-timed vowels. Another frequent error is misplacing the tongue for the /z/ and producing a voiceless /s/ or an unvoiced ending. To correct: ensure the second syllable is /zɪ/ (or /zɪ/ in some rapid speech) and finish strongly with /z/ rather than turning into /s/ or suffixing a devoiced sound. Practice with minimal pairs like close vs closes.
In US English, you’ll hear a clear /kloʊzɪz/ with a strong /oʊ/ vowel and a voiced /z/ at the end. UK and AU pronunciations typically use /kləʊzɪz/, with a slightly reduced second vowel and a non-rhotic treatment of the first syllable in some accents; however, since the word ends with /z/, rhoticity affects only the preceding vowel quality. The final /z/ remains voiced in all three. Australians may have a marginally more centralized second vowel due to vowel reduction in rapid speech. IPA references: US /kloʊzɪz/, UK/AU /kləʊzɪz/.
The challenge lies in coordinating the final voiced consonant with the preceding vowel, especially when the first syllable includes a long, rounded vowel like /oʊ/ or a reduced form like /əʊ/ in UK usage. The transition from /z/ to /ɪ/ (or maintaining /zɪz/) requires precise voicing and timing in rapid speech. Speakers may devoice the final /z/ or merge the /z/ with the preceding /z/ into a longer /zɪz/ sequence. Practicing with rhythm and minimal pairs helps manage the voicing and vowel quality.
A key feature is the final -es realization as /ɪz/ or /zɪz/ after the base /kloʊ/ or /kləʊ/ in many dialects, particularly when the root ends with an sibilant /s/ or a similar sound. In careful speech, the sequence is C-L-O plus -zes; the 'es' often contributes an extra syllable with a short or reduced vowel, producing /zɪz/. This creates a subtle two-syllable ending that is visible across dialects, though the exact vowel can vary.
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- US: Focus on a clear /oʊ/ in the first syllable and a fully voiced final /z/; keep the second syllable /ɪz/ light but audible. - UK: Expect a slightly more centralized or rounded vowel in the first syllable, with less diphthong emphasis in rapid speech; still voice the final /z/. - AU: Similar to UK, but may feature a more centralized vowel and slightly quicker transition to the final /z/; ensure the final consonant is voiced. Use IPA anchors: US /kloʊzɪz/; UK/AU /kləʊzɪz/.
The word closes derives from Old French clore, meaning 'to shut,' from Latin clorrāre? (unclear; the Latin verb is claudere, ‘to shut’). Middle English adopted closes through the verb clisen/shut; the -es suffix marks third-person singular present and plural noun forms historically. The semantic shift moved from physical closure to more abstract endings, such as closing a sale or closing a session. The present tense form with -es emerged as English grammar standardizes third-person singular endings in Middle English to reflect subjects like he, she, it. First known uses trace to late medieval texts where clerks describe doors, gates, or agreements being made closed or concluded. In modern usage, closes is entirely productive as a present-tense verb and frequently appears in business and domestic contexts, with its pronunciation always highlighting the final voiced s (/z/) rather than the /s/ of “close” as a noun ending in some varieties.
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Words that rhyme with "closes"
-ses sounds
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