How to Pronounce Hold

To pronounce "hold", say HOLD — one syllable, IPA /həʊld/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

hold

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/həʊld/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “hold

"hold" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with cold and threshold, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: holde, holed — easy to mix up when writing.

What does hold mean?

noun

  1. A grasp or grip.

    Keep a firm hold on the handlebars.

  2. An act or instance of holding.

    Can I have a hold of the baby?

verb

  1. To grasp or grip.

    Hold the pencil like this.

  2. To contain or store.

    This package holds six bottles.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Hear “hold” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with hold

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

Related words

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "hold"?

"Hold" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "hold"?

The IPA transcription of "hold" is /həʊld/.

What does "hold" mean?

Hold: A grasp or grip.

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