One letter, two sounds
loose vs lose
Meaning, pronunciation, and examples
Loose is usually an adjective meaning “not tight.” Lose is a verb meaning “to no longer have” or “to fail to win.” Loose ends with /s/; lose ends with /z/.
Reference accent
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American English
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Each word has natural, careful, and slow playback. Try listening without looking, then compare the mouth cues.
Word 1
loose
adjective
Not tight, fixed, or firmly held in place.
US pronunciation
/luːs/
UK IPA
/luːs/
Hear three samples
How to pronounce it
Finish with an unvoiced /s/, like the end of “bus.” Your throat should stay still.
Word 2
lose
verb
To stop having something or to fail to win.
US pronunciation
/luːz/
UK IPA
/luːz/
Hear three samples
How to pronounce it
Finish with a voiced /z/. You should feel a light buzz in your throat.
Sound contrast
How to tell them apart
Hold the long OO sound in both words. For loose, finish with quiet air: /s/. For lose, switch on your voice at the end: /z/. Touch your throat to feel the vibration in lose.
Meaning and usage
What is the difference between loose and lose?
Use loose to describe something free, relaxed, or not firmly attached. Use lose for the action of misplacing something, becoming deprived of it, or not winning. The spelling is deceptive: loose has two written o’s but the shorter final sound.
Listen in context
Six example sentences
Context makes both the meaning and the natural rhythm easier to hear. Every sentence has its own playback.
Examples with
loose
- This screw is loose and needs tightening.
- She wore a loose cotton shirt.
- The dog got loose in the park.
Examples with
lose
- Try not to lose your keys again.
- Our team may lose the final match.
- I always lose track of time while reading.
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