One syllable: clutched.
kluhcht
/klʌtʃt/
clutched is pronounced kluhcht (/klʌtʃt/). It has one syllable (clutched), with the stress on "clutched". Clutched is the past tense of clutch, meaning to grasp something tightly with hands, often in alarm or effort. It can describe a physical grip or a figurative hold, such as clinging to a memory or idea. The word conveys urgency, tension, and decisiveness in action or emotion.
Clutched is the past tense of clutch, meaning to grasp something tightly with hands, often in alarm or effort. It can describe a physical grip or a figurative hold, such as clinging to a memory or idea. The word conveys urgency, tension, and decisiveness in action or emotion.
"She clutched the railing as the train lurched forward."
"He clutched the letter to his chest, afraid to open it."
"The child clutched his mother's scarf, not wanting to let go."
Say it as /klʌtʃt/. Start with the /k/ as in kick, then the short lax /ɪ/ vowel becomes /ʌ/ as in luck, then /tʃ/ as in choice, finishing with a crisp /t/ stroke. Stress is on the single syllable.
Common errors: pronouncing it as /kluːtʃt/ using a long /uː/ vowel, or adding an extra /d/ sound like /klʌtʃtɪd/. Correction: use the short /ʌ/ vowel in /klʌtʃt/ and end with a clean voiceless /t/ rather than a voiced /d/.
US/UK/AU share /klʌtʃt/ but vowel quality can vary: US often has a slightly more centralized /ʌ/; UK may feature a crisper /t/ with less flapping; AU can show subtle vowel narrowing and stronger /t/ release in careful speech. overall, the rhoticity is less relevant here since /ɹ/ isn’t involved.
The difficulty lies in the quick transition from /tʃ/ to a final /t/ without a vowel in between, making the ending feel abrupt. Many speakers also mispronounce the /ʌ/ as /ə/ or lengthen the vowel. Focus on a short, precise /ʌ/ followed by a crisp /t/.
There’s no silent letter here, but the /t/ is a terminal, unvoiced stop. The tricky part is the /tʃ/ sequence followed immediately by /t/. Practicing the mouth movement from /t//ʃ/ without a vowel between helps you land the final /t/ cleanly.
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Clutched comes from the verb clutch, from Old English hlyccan ‘to press, squeeze’ and later Middle English clutchen, with meaning shift toward gripping tightly. The base clutch traces to Proto-Germanic *klutjaną, related to clout and clench, implying pressing force. Through the centuries, the sense broadened from a literal grasp to include figurative grabbing of opportunities or fear-driven grips. The first recorded uses appear in Middle English texts, with steady usage by Early Modern English as speakers described both physical gripping and intense emotional holds. The evolution reflects a strong, tactile action (to seize or hold) becoming a metaphor for determination, anxiety, or fate—evident in literary phrases like “clutched at straws,” where the physical act of grabbing mirrors desperate attempts to secure an outcome.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "clutched" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "clutched" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "clutched"
-hed sounds
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