How to Pronounce "Clothes" in English Without Twisting Your Tongue (The Secret is Simple!)

Is the pronunciation of "clothes" a challenge for you? Discover the secret to sounding like a native speaker. A pronunciation tip from your English course that will simplify your life!

Teacher Joana Feliciano

8/28/20252 min read

Answer quickly: how do you pronounce the word "clothes"?

If you tried to articulate a "TH" sound in the middle and ended up with a tongue twister, you should know you're not alone. This is one of the most challenging words for English learners worldwide.

But what if I told you the correct pronunciation is much, much easier than the spelling suggests? As we show in the video, the answer is surprisingly simple and will change how you talk about fashion forever.

Let's demystify this once and for all!

The Pronunciation Secret: Forget the "TH"

It might seem counterintuitive, but in natural, everyday speech, most native speakers pronounce "clothes" in the exact same way as the verb "to close."

That's right! The two words are homophones.

  • Pronunciation of "Clothes" & "Close": /kloʊz/

But why? The "th" spelling misleads us, as we try to create a sound that doesn't exist in the common pronunciation. The consonant cluster "th" followed by "s" (/ðz/) is complex even for native speakers. Over time, spoken language simplified the sound, dropping the "th" to make it more fluid.

Therefore, the video's question, "Can you close the clothes?", is a clever joke because, sonically, the two key words are identical!

Knowing this is liberating. You no longer need to contort your mouth to nail a sound that native speakers themselves simplify.

Exercise: Homophone Detector

Let's train your ear for context! In each sentence below, the missing word has the sound /kloʊz/. Your mission is to decide if the correct spelling is clothes or close.

  1. I need to buy some new ______ for the winter.

  2. Please ______ the window, it's getting cold.

  3. He keeps all his ______ in a big wardrobe.

  4. What time does the supermarket ______ on Sundays?

Now, let's level up! What's the correct word for each context?

  1. I can't ______ you from this far away. (hear / here)

  2. She has ______ beautiful cats. (to / two / too)

  3. I ______ a letter to my grandmother. (right / write)

Answers at the end of the post!

Speak with More Confidence!

English is full of these little "traps" where spelling and pronunciation don't go hand in hand. Learning these shortcuts isn't "making a mistake"; it's speaking the language as it's truly used in daily life.

That's why focusing on practical pronunciation, as we do in our English course, is so crucial. It gives you the confidence to stop overthinking and just speak.

Did this tip help unlock your pronunciation? Comment below with other English words you find tricky to pronounce! And don't forget to subscribe for more secrets of spoken English.

(Exercise Answers: 1. clothes, 2. close, 3. clothes, 4. close, 5. hear, 6. two, 7. write)

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