2 syllables: lock, out. Stress on lock.
LAH-kowt
/ˈlɑˌkaʊt/
lockout is pronounced LAH-kowt (/ˈlɑˌkaʊt/). It has two syllables (lock-out), with the stress on "lock". Lockout refers to a formal action or event where a worker or group is barred from entering a workplace or facility, typically by the employer, often in a labor dispute. It can also describe a temporary suspension of operations by management to prevent access during negotiations or security concerns. The term emphasizes exclusion from entry or service for a defined period.
Lockout refers to a formal action or event where a worker or group is barred from entering a workplace or facility, typically by the employer, often in a labor dispute. It can also describe a temporary suspension of operations by management to prevent access during negotiations or security concerns. The term emphasizes exclusion from entry or service for a defined period.
- You often replace the first syllable vowel with a more closed or rounded vowel (e.g., saying /lɒk/ as /lɪk/); keep the open-back vowel in the first syllable. - You under-pronounce or drop the /t/ at the end; practice a crisp alveolar plosive release. - You merge the two vowels (/ɒ/ or /ɑː/ and /aʊ/) into a mono-vowel; keep the /aʊ/ diphthong intact, ending with a clear /ʊ/ or /t/ release after the /aʊ/.
"During the labor dispute, the company announced a sudden lockout of all nonessential employees."
"The stadium implemented a lockout to preserve security during the protest."
"A temporary lockout of the facility was necessary to protect equipment after hours."
Pronounce as two syllables with primary stress on the first: US /ˈlɑːk.aʊt/ (or /ˈlɑːk.aʊt/, depending on speaker), UK /ˈlɒk.aʊt/, AU /ˈlɒk.aʊt/. Start with the hard L, then a short 'lock' vowel, followed by a rounded 'out' (/aʊ/). Tongue lands for /l/ at alveolar ridge, /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ as open back vowel, then /aʊ/ as diphthong; end with /t/. Avoid prolonging the second syllable; keep it crisp. Audio reference: consult Cambridge or Forvo entries for two-syllable; mimic native rhythm and stress.
Two common errors: (1) Slurring the second syllable into a weak /ə/ or /ʊ/; keep /aʊ/ as a clear diphthong. (2) Word-final /t/ avoidance or glottal stop in certain accents; ensure you release with a full /t/ rather than a stopped form. Correct by practice of two-syllable rhythm: /ˈlɒk.aʊt/ or /ˈlɑːk.aʊt/, emphasising /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ then /aʊ/ and final /t/.
US tends to have /ˈlɑːk.aʊt/ with a heavier open back vowel in the first syllable; UK often uses /ˈlɒk.aʊt/ with a clipped /ɒ/ and less rhoticity; Australian generally similar to UK but with a slightly broader /ɒ/ and a less pronounced /t/ in rapid speech. Across all, the /aʊ/ diphthong in the second syllable remains consistent. Pay attention to rhoticity differences and the openness of the first vowel. IPA references align accordingly.
Difficulties center on the two-part structure and the /aʊ/ diphthong in the second syllable, which can blend with a muted or glided /ʊ/ in rapid speech. The first syllable also demands a precise alveolar /k/ release before the diphthong. Shoulder-to-mouth transitions can be tricky for non-native speakers, especially when keeping stress on the first syllable while maintaining a crisp final /t/.
Yes, you begin with a clear alveolar /l/ followed by a short vowel; there is no labialization beyond standard lip rounding for /ɒ/ or /ɑː/. The key phonetic feature is the smooth transition from /l/ to the vowel /ɒ/ (or /ɑː/) and then into the /aʊ/ diphthong. Ensure your tongue tips to the alveolar ridge, and your lips are relaxed, not rounded aggressively, to avoid an exaggerated rounded /ɒ/.
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- US: keep a strong /ɑː/ or /ɑ/ in the first syllable; rhoticity generally not relevant in this word, but watch regional vowels. - UK: shorter, more clipped /ɒ/ and a tighter /aʊ/ transition; avoid elongating /t/. - AU: similar to UK but can have a slightly broader /ɒ/; keep the final /t/ crisp in careful speech. - IPA references: /ˈlɒk.aʊt/ (UK), /ˈlɑːk.aʊt/ (US), /ˈlɒk.aʊt/ (AU).
The word lockout originates from early 19th-century English, combining lock (to fasten or secure) with out (indicating removal or exclusion). The concept aligns with labor relations, where an employer may prevent workers from entering a factory to pressure concessions during negotiations. The earliest uses appear in industrial-era texts describing management actions to protect capital during labor disputes. Historically, lockouts emerged as a counterpart to strikes; when negotiations stalled, owners could deny access to the workplace, shifting leverage in labor disputes. Over time, lockouts extended beyond labor contexts to general security or access-control scenarios, yet the core sense remains exclusion or denial of entry for a period. The phrase gained prominence in the late 1800s and has remained stable in industrial vocabulary. Modern usage retains the two-part construction: lock (secure) + out (away from participation), reinforcing the idea of a deliberate removal of access rather than a cessation of operation alone.
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Words that rhyme with "lockout"
-out sounds
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