One syllable: Loose.
loos
/lus/
Loose is pronounced loos (/lus/). It has one syllable (Loose), with the stress on "Loose". Loose is a noun meaning a state of being not tight or firmly fixed, often referring to clothing, fittings, or hardware. It can describe looseness in transmission, alignment, or grip. In contexts like security or mechanics, it can imply freedom from precision. The term contrasts with tight, secure, or fixed, highlighting unwanted play or slack.
nounLoose is a noun meaning a state of being not tight or firmly fixed, often referring to clothing, fittings, or hardware. It can describe looseness in transmission, alignment, or grip. In contexts like security or mechanics, it can imply freedom from precision. The term contrasts with tight, secure, or fixed, highlighting unwanted play or slack.
"- The screw is too loose and needs tightening."
"- Her shoelaces are loose, so she trips less often."
"- There’s a loose connection in the wiring that could cause a short."
Pronounce it as /luːs/ in US, UK, and AU. The word has a long /uː/ vowel and a voiceless /s/ final. Start with a high back tongue position, lips unrounded, and a smooth, tense middle to end. The key is keeping the vowel length steady while closing with /s/. You can think “ loo-seh,” but end with clear /s/: /luːs/ (rhymes with goose).
Two common errors are shortening the /uː/ to a short /ʊ/ as in 'look' and inserting an extra syllable or vowel. Some learners produce /luəs/ with a diphthong, or fear the /s/ and add an extra /z/ sound. Correct approach: keep a tense, long /uː/ regardless of adjacent consonants, end with a crisp /s/ without voicing. Practice with minimal pairs like /luːs/ vs /luz/ to fix the final fricative.
US, UK, and AU share /luːs/ but rhotics and timing differ. US tends toward a slightly rounded /uː/ with a sharper /s/; UK favors a longer, pure /uː/ in non-rhotic contexts but still /luːs/; AU generally aligns with UK but may have a slightly broader, flatter vowel quality and faster transitions in casual speech. The rhoticity has minimal impact here since /r/ isn’t present; focus on vowel purity and final /s/ clarity.
The challenge is maintaining a long, tense /uː/ before a voiceless /s/. Some learners fuse it with a shorter /o/ or mispronounce the /s/ as /z/ (voiced) when adjacent sounds cause voicing changes. Another difficulty is avoiding an intrusive or extra vowel sound between /uː/ and /s/. Concentrate on a steady, monochrome /uː/ followed by a crisp, unvoiced /s/.
Yes—the final /s/ must stay unvoiced in all standard contexts, including linked speech. It should not turn into /z/ even if the preceding vowel is longer in connected speech. The word should remain a single syllable with clear /luː/ nucleus and crisp /s/. Pay attention to mouth posture: lips lightly rounded, jaw relaxed, tip of the tongue just behind the upper teeth for the /s/.
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Loose comes from Middle English loosen, from Old English losian, related to Old Norse losna meaning to loosen, and Proto-Germanic *lausanan. The root implies release or freedom from tightness. Early senses referred to something not tight or fastened; by the medieval period it also described looseness of moral restraint or measure. In Middle English, losen/losen also appeared in legal and mechanical contexts, evolving to describe clothing or materials not secured. The modern noun sense solidified in early modern English, with frequent collocations around fittings, cords, seams, and gadgets that lack firmness. Over time,
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Loose" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Loose" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Loose"
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