Hadar Shemesh breaks down how to pronounce "clothes": start with /kl/, then the /oʊ/ sound from "go," then /ð/ and /z/. The /ð/ to /z/ transition trips up most learners, so many just say it like the verb "close" instead.
How to pronounce the word clothes. You start with a k sound, then the l sound, cl, Then the o as in go. This is a diphthong, a changing vowel. So you start by dropping your jaw, rounding your lips a bit, and then you're closing your jaw and your lips at the same time. O, O, clo. Imagine like you're adding a w sound at the end. Clo. Then we have a th sound and a z. It's a voiced th and a z. So you stick the tongue out and then you bring it in for the z. But I got good news for you because it is a tricky transition for most people. So most people end up dropping the ta so you don't have to pronounce it. And then you can just say close, as in close the door close. Isn't it much easier? Clothes. Put on some clothes.
Read Out Loud with me! Dare to Lead by Brené Brown | Pronunciation & Vocabulary practice
