One syllable: Glue.
gloo
/ɡlu/
Glue is pronounced gloo (/ɡlu/). It has one syllable (Glue), with the stress on "Glue". Glue is a viscous adhesive used to bond materials together; it is typically a liquid or semi-solid substance that hardens to form a strong bond. In everyday language it can also refer to the act of sticking things together. The term is widely used in both household and industrial contexts and carries a sense of sticking things permanently or securely.
nounGlue is a viscous adhesive used to bond materials together; it is typically a liquid or semi-solid substance that hardens to form a strong bond. In everyday language it can also refer to the act of sticking things together. The term is widely used in both household and industrial contexts and carries a sense of sticking things permanently or securely.
"I need to buy glue to fix the broken ceramic vase."
"The kids used glue and glitter to decorate their art project."
"She glued the two pieces of wood together before staining."
Pronounce it as /gluː/. The initial consonant is the hard G as in get, followed by the L with the tongue lightly touching the alveolar ridge, and a long U vowel sound as in ‘hull’ but elongated. Stress is on the monosyllable. Tip: keep the mouth rounded for the /uː/ vowel and avoid tipping into a quick ‘gluh’ sound by lengthening the vowel. IPA: /gluː/; you’ll hear a smooth, continuous glide from /g/ to /luː/ in natural speech.
Two common errors: (1) Shortening the /uː/ to a quick /u/ as in ‘book’. (2) Dropping the /l/ making it /gjuː/ or /gʊ/. Correct by lengthening the vowel to /uː/ and keeping a light alveolar /l/ with a steady /l/ release into /uː/. Practice with minimal pairs: glue vs gru (not common but helps feel the /l/), or glue vs blue to hear the difference between /gluː/ and /bluː/.
In US, UK, and AU you’ll hear /gluː/ with a long /uː/. The rhotic US accent may slightly color the vowel with a touch of /ɚ/ in rapid speech, but most speakers keep the vowel long and pure. The main variation is the /g/ and /l/ coarticulation: US speakers often produce a more velar release and slightly darker /l/; UK speakers may have a lighter, clearer /l/ and crisper /g/; Australian tends toward a more centralized /uː/ and a broader, relaxed /l/ with a slightly shorter duration in casual speech. overall, the core is /gluː/ across regions.
It’s not the individual sounds but the sequence: /g/ + /l/ + /uː/. The /l/ must be light and not blur into the vowel; coarticulation can pull the /l/ toward /u/ or create a syllabic effect. The long /uː/ demands a rounded, tense mouth position; if you round too much or shorten the vowel, you sound unclear. Additionally, speaker comfort and speed affect accuracy—in rapid speech the vowels can compress and the /l/ can become dark or swallowed. Focus on a clean /l/ release into a sustained /uː/.
Glue has a straightforward onset and nucleus; the key nuance is the glottal or light contact before the /l/ and the length of the /uː/. Some speakers may insert a tiny vowel before the /l/ in very rapid speech, but standard pronunciation maintains a clean /gluː/. Watch for a nearly invisible release from /g/ to /l/ then into the long /uː/. IPA: /gluː/; mouth posture should stay relaxed but precise for each segment.
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The word glue comes from the Latin glutinus, meaning sticky, which is related to glus, glutin- in various forms. In English, glue appeared in the late Middle English period, borrowed via Old French glu and Latin glutinus. The semantic core—substances capable of bonding— traces to various roots across Germanic and Romance languages, reflecting a common need to join materials. Early English uses described glues derived from animal tissues, such as hides or bones, and later from synthetic formulations as chemistry advanced. By the 18th and 19th centuries, refinements in industrial adhesives expanded glue’s scope beyond woodworking and carpentry to textiles, paper, and plastics. The word retains a broad sense of sticking and bonding, and in modern usage also serves metaphorically (e.g., “the glue of the team”). First known uses in English literature appear in the 14th to 15th centuries, with later standardization in dictionaries as adhesives became ubiquitous in households and industry. The term’s evolution reflects advances in chemistry and manufacturing, shifting from natural adhesives to a wide spectrum of synthetic glues with varying viscosities and bond strengths. Today, ‘glue’ is almost interchangeable with ‘adhesive’ in common speech, though ‘glue’ often implies a thicker, more viscous form used for quick, sturdy bonding in crafts and fix-it tasks.
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Help others use "Glue" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Glue" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Glue"
-lue sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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