Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

klutz

/klʌts/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.12 in modern English

Syllables: klutz
IPA: /klʌts/

18

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A clumsy or stupid person.

American usage; Derogatory

name

Example Sentences

"Well, that's all right, then, Brian. Sit down. Have a scone. Make yourself at home. You klutz!"
""Out of [one abortion doctor's] first six months of work, there are nine malpractice suits ... After it was apparent the guy was a klutz, they kept using him, and trying to cover for him, because they couldn't find another provider.""
""Mel, back home we'd call you a klutz." / Melissa: "Use a lot of Yiddish back in Texas, do you?""
"I bumped into the coffee table. "Sorry about that table. Don't worry, you should see me, Qanta. I am the klutz! I am always doing that!" She giggled at her clumsiness while I giggled at a Saudi using idiomatic Yiddish."

Etymology

From Yiddish קלאָץ (klots, literally “wooden beam”); cognate to German Klotz (“block, lump”). Doublet of clot and clod.

Origin

Source language: Yiddish

Word Breakdown

Root: קלאָץ

Usage

American usage
Derogatory

Inflected Forms

klutzes (plural) clutz (alternative) Klütz (alternative) Kluet (alternative)

Derived Forms

klutzhood klutzily klutziness klutzish klutzy

Rhymes With

what's cuts nuts guts butts shuts huts sluts lutz struts buts putts

Questions

How do you pronounce klutz?: The recorded pronunciation is /klʌts/.
What does klutz mean?: A clumsy or stupid person.
Where does klutz come from?: It is traced to Yiddish.

How to pronounce klutz

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “klutz”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/klʌts/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “klutz”.
Repeat and practice — Say “klutz” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.