One syllable: Law.
law
/lɔ/
Law is pronounced law (/lɔ/). It has one syllable (Law), with the stress on "Law". Law is a system of rules created and enforced to govern behavior within a society, typically backed by the state or a recognized authority. It also refers to the body of statutes, regulations, and case law that govern rights, duties, and sanctions. In everyday use, law can denote fields like criminal law, civil law, or constitutional law, and people may pursue law as a profession or discipline.
nounLaw is a system of rules created and enforced to govern behavior within a society, typically backed by the state or a recognized authority. It also refers to the body of statutes, regulations, and case law that govern rights, duties, and sanctions. In everyday use, law can denote fields like criminal law, civil law, or constitutional law, and people may pursue law as a profession or discipline.
"The law requires drivers to stop at red lights."
"She studied law at the university to become a lawyer."
"They argued the law was outdated and needed reform."
Pronounce it as /lɔː/ in both US and UK, with a long, tense open back rounded vowel. The initial /l/ is clear and the mouth is slightly rounded for the /ɔː/; keep the tongue low to mid-back, lips rounded, and avoid a separate /ɒ/ or /æ/ element. In connected speech, you may hear a quicker, closed version, but aim for that steady /ɔː/ core. IPA guides: US /lɔː/, UK /lɔː/, AU /lɔː/. Audio references: compare with /lɔː/ in standard pronunciation guides and native-speaker samples.
Common errors include pronouncing it as /lɑː/ with an open back unrounded vowel or as /lɔ/ with a short, clipped vowel. Some learners add extra vowel length or misplace lips, producing /lɔːɪ/ or /lɒ/. To correct: keep a single, tense /ɔː/ vowel, keep lips rounded but not overly so, and avoid adding a schwa after the vowel in fluent speech. Practice with minimal pairs like law versus lure and law versus lore to feel the contrast.
In US and UK both use /lɔː/, but vowel quality may differ: US often has a smoother, tenser /ɔ/ with less rounding in some regions, UK maintains a clear, rounded /ɔː/. Australian tends toward a more centralized or flattened /ɔː/ in some dialects; some speakers may merge with /lɔː/ or even /lɔːə/ in rapid speech. Overall, rhoticity is not a major factor for this word, but some US regional varieties show a slightly more monophthongal or vowel-shifted realization.
The challenge lies in producing a tense, back vowel /ɔː/ that sits behind a clear /l/. Learners often make it more open (/ɑː/) or shorter (/ɔ/). Jaw and lip posture must be steady; avoid diphthongization or trailing off. In connected speech, assimilation and speed can blur the vowel, so sustaining the /ɔː/ sound while linking to the following word is crucial.
No. The word is pronounced with a single syllable containing the ligatured /l/ onset and a single long /ɔː/ nucleus, with no trailing consonants that would create a silent letter. The key is maintaining a clean /l/ release and a steady /ɔː/ vowel, especially before fluent, rapid speech where the vowel can be slightly compressed but should not reduce to a short /ɑ/ or /ɒ/.
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The word law traces to the Old English lagu, which meant something laid down or fixed, and is related to law in Germanic languages (Old High German lagu, Old Norse lög). It evolved through Proto-Germanic *lagō- and further to Old English lagu or lagu-lagu, encompassing meanings of a rule, binding obligation, or a measuring rod. In medieval England, law increasingly referred to formal codes and judicial processes, distinguishing statutes from custom. The modern sense consolidates the idea of a codified, enforceable rule of behavior within a sovereign system. Across centuries, ‘law’ broadened from a practical rule to a formal discipline and field of study (jurisprudence). First attestations in English legal texts appear in the early medieval period, with sustained usage in legal charters and scholastic commentaries by the 12th and 13th centuries, and by the late modern era, ‘law’ denotes both the comprehensive system and specific branches like civil law, criminal law, and constitutional law.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Law" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Law"
-law sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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