2 syllables: low, est. Stress on low.
LOH-uhst
/ˈloʊəst/
lowest is pronounced LOH-uhst (/ˈloʊəst/). It has two syllables (low-est), with the stress on "low". Lowest is the superlative form of low, meaning the smallest height or degree within a group, or the least in any measured scale. It can function as an adjective or an adverb (as in “the lowest point” or “the lowest score”) and carries a comparative emphasis that signals minimal extent compared to others. In pronunciation, the word is a single-syllable token with a light, clipped final sound.
Lowest is the superlative form of low, meaning the smallest height or degree within a group, or the least in any measured scale. It can function as an adjective or an adverb (as in “the lowest point” or “the lowest score”) and carries a comparative emphasis that signals minimal extent compared to others. In pronunciation, the word is a single-syllable token with a light, clipped final sound.
"The lake reached its lowest level in a decade."
"She stood at the lowest deck during the tour."
"This is the lowest temperature we’ve recorded this year."
You pronounce it with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈloʊst/ in US. The vowel is a long /oʊ/ (like ‘go’), and the final /st/ is a crisp, voiceless cluster. There’s no extra syllable after the /t/—mouth closes quickly on a strong consonant stop. Imagine saying ‘low’ and then a sharp ‘st’ bite at the end. IPA: US /ˈloʊst/, UK/AU /ˈləʊst/.
Common errors include adding an extra syllable (pronouncing it as ‘low-EST’ with a second syllable) or reducing the word to a short vowel before /st/. Another frequent mistake is mispronouncing the /oʊ/ as a short /o/ sound, giving /lɒst/. To correct: keep the long diphthong /oʊ/ (or /əʊ/ in UK/AU) and ensure the final /st/ is released sharply without voicing. Practice the glide in /loʊ/ before closing with /st/.
US English uses /ˈloʊst/ with a clear, rounded /oʊ/ and rhotic influence minimized after the vowel. UK/AU accents use /ˈləʊst/ with a more centralized /ə/ onset in some speakers and a fronted, unrounded /əʊ/ glide. The final /st/ is unvoiced in all. Australians may show a mild vowel shift toward /aɪ/ in fast speech, but typically /ləʊst/ or /loʊst/ remains standard. Rhoticity doesn’t affect this word much, as the /r/ is not present. IPA references: US /ˈloʊst/, UK/AU /ˈləʊst/.
The difficulty centers on the diphthong /oʊ/ combined with a crisp final /st/. The glide change should be natural, not a pure /o/ or /oʊ/ split, and the /st/ cluster requires precise tongue blade placement for a clean, voiceless stop. Many speakers also tense the jaw or mouth too much, causing a slower or stiffer release. Focus on a relaxed jaw, a smooth /oʊ/ glide, and a quick, unvoiced /st/ finish to avoid voicing or mispronouncing the consonant blend.
The word’s primary challenge is the combination of a long, rounded diphthong with a fast, voiceless alveolar cluster. Unlike words with a simple final /st/ after a pure vowel, /oʊ/ requires maintaining the glide into /st/ without a perceptible pause. You’ll feel the mouth settle into a rounded front position for the /oʊ/, then snap the /t/ and /s/ together quickly. IPA: /ˈloʊst/ (US), /ˈləʊst/ (UK/AU).
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US: /ˈloʊst/ – round, full /oʊ/ glide, minimal jaw drop; keep rhoticity off the final consonant. UK/AU: /ˈləʊst/ or /ˈləʊst/ with a shorter, more centralized vowel and a slightly softer /l/ leading sound; some speakers may vocalize the /t/ more clearly with a crisp alveolar plosive. General: maintain a tight mouth shape for the /oʊ/ and a quick, unvoiced /t/ and /s/. IPA references: US /ˈloʊst/, UK/AU /ˈləʊst/.
Lowest derives from Old English lowe, meaning ‘low, humble, or weak,’ paired with the suffix -est to form the superlative. The root lowe evolved into low in Middle English, then combined with -est to indicate the extreme of the positive adjective low. The semantic shift retained the sense of “furthest down in position or degree” across time. In usage, lowest has expanded to include abstract domains (lowest price, lowest rank) beyond physical height. First known uses appear in Old English texts, with robust attestations in Middle English literature as writers compared attributes within groups or conditions, e.g., temperatures, degrees, or standings. Over centuries, the spelling stabilized to “lowest” in Modern English, preserving the single-syllable pronunciation and the final e-less form that cues an abrupt ending in most dialects.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "lowest" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "lowest" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "lowest"
-ost sounds
-sed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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