One syllable: Clown.
klown
/klaʊn/
Clown is pronounced klown (/klaʊn/). It has one syllable (Clown), with the stress on "Clown". Clown is a person who entertains others with jokes, pratfalls, and exaggerated behavior, often in a circus or street performance. It can also describe someone who pretends to be funny or silly. The term emphasizes comic display, physical comedy, and a role that invites laughter, sometimes masking seriousness or vulnerability beneath a humorous exterior.
nounClown is a person who entertains others with jokes, pratfalls, and exaggerated behavior, often in a circus or street performance. It can also describe someone who pretends to be funny or silly. The term emphasizes comic display, physical comedy, and a role that invites laughter, sometimes masking seriousness or vulnerability beneath a humorous exterior.
- Commonly you might substitute /aɪ/ for /aʊ/ (sound like ‘clain’). Fix by practicing the exact starting position with a short, quick glide from /a/ to /ʊ/ while rounding lips. - You may blunt the diphthong by flattening it into a monophthong; keep the dynamic move from /a/ to /ʊ/ with a rounded mouth posture. - Final /n/ can be too heavy, dragging the preceding vowel. Focus on a light nasal release after the diphthong, not a strong consonant block. - Try slow careful repetition: /k/ + /l/ + /aʊ/ + /n/; keep jaw slightly lowered, tongue tip near alveolar ridge. - In rapid speech, trailing consonants can bleed into following words; practice with connected phrases to maintain clarity.
"The clown juggled flaming torches to the delight of the children."
"She wore oversized shoes and a red nose, becoming the town’s beloved clown."
"During the parade, the clown exaggerated every gesture to draw cheers from the crowd."
Clown is pronounced with a single stressed syllable: /klaʊn/. Begin with the /k/ plosive, then the diphthong /aʊ/ or “ow” as in cow, closing with the /n/ nasal. Keep the lips rounded into the /aʊ/ glide and finish with a light, dental-alveolar /n/. Try a slight elevation of the tongue tip for the /n/ without releasing the previous vowel too early. Audio cues: listen for the short, rounded ‘ow’ sound before the nasal closure.
Two common errors are pronouncing the middle as a long /oː/ instead of the /aʊ/ diphthong, and finishing with an overly strong /n/ that makes it sound like ‘clownn’. Correct by shaping a true /aʊ/ glide: start with /a/ then quickly move to /u/ while rounding the lips, and then softly release the /n/ with the tip lightly touching the alveolar ridge. Practice minimal pairs: clown – crown, clown – clone. Listen for the rapid awwn transition rather than a steady vowel.
In US and UK, clown uses the same /klaʊn/ vowel, but rhotic accents in some US contexts can introduce a light /r/ in connected speech, though not in careful isolation. Australian speakers typically maintain /klaʊn/ with more centralized vowel coloring and a slightly flatter /aʊ/ transition due to vowel quality shifts. The non-rhotic nature of some British varieties keeps the /n/ crisp, while US tends to a staccato /n/ with a bit more nasal resonance. Overall, the core diphthong remains /aʊ/ with subtle color differences in vowels.
The challenge lies in the /aʊ/ diphthong, which requires a precise glide from /a/ to /u/ while maintaining lip rounding and jaw position. The /n/ at the end must be released without bleeding into the preceding vowel, which can happen if the tongue tip or alveolar ridge isn’t stabilized. Additionally, the /l/ influences the timing of the diphthong: ensure a clear onset with /k/ then a smooth transition to /laʊn/. Proper practice helps prevent a mispronunciation like ‘clownn’ or ‘cloen’.
A unique aspect is the precision of the /l/ in a word with a prominent diphthong ending. You begin with a velar /k/, then produce /l/ as a light, adjacent alveolar sound, ensuring the tongue body participates in the /aʊ/ glide. The word ends with a nasal closure that should not dull the preceding diphthong’s dynamic quality. Focus on maintaining the diphthong’s shape right up to the nasal release for a crisp, natural sounding clown.
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US: rhotic but not pronounced in clown; UK: non-rhotic, crisper /l/ and more precise diphthong; AU: broader vowel quality with less lip rounding. Vowel quality differences show US /aʊ/ with a slightly sharper onset; UK /aʊ/ often more centralized; AU often more centralized and less rounded. IPA references: US /klaʊn/, UK /klaʊn/, AU /klaʊn/. The main difference lies in the alveolar consonant release and the adjoined /l/ lightness. Use careful lip rounding for /aʊ/ and maintain a light /n/.
Clown originates from the Middle English clowne, a word used to describe a rustic, boorish man or a rustic rustic fool. It likely derives from the plural form clowne of clowen meaning rope or hook? The semantic path shifted in the 16th-17th centuries as stage performers incorporated clumsy mishaps and physical comedy, eventually settling on the modern sense of a humorous entertainer. By the 19th century, circus and fairground troupes popularized the image of the clown with painted face, oversized clothing, and slapstick acts, cementing the term as a recognizable professional title. The word broadened to describe any person who acts in a silly or ridiculous way to provoke laughter, even outside entertainment venues. First known written use is attested in early modern English literature, with evolving connotations from rustic fool to professional entertainer. The evolution reflects changing social attitudes toward humor, performative art, and the boundary between genuine comedy and social mockery. The term has subsequently acquired cultural symbolism (circus clown, birthday clown) and remains highly recognizable in contemporary English.
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Help others use "Clown" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Clown" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Clown" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Clown"
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